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Biomedical/Medical Engineering at University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, AL · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $42,570/yr (-33% vs median)

AI Risk High (50% exposed)

Job Market Medium (19,900 openings/yr)

ROI 24.5x earnings multiple (9.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #59 of 119 Biomedical/Medical Engineering programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Biomedical/Medical Engineering graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$902K	$865K	$736K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	25.5x	24.5x	20.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	10.3x	9.9x	8.4x
Probability of Field Employment	73%	67%	48%
DegreeOutlook Score	60	59	61

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$35,328

Out-of-state: $87,456 (9.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$70,908

-101% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,676

6.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$85,321

100% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $42,570/yr fall 33% below the $63,751 national median for Biomedical/Medical Engineering. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 24.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 18% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $22,676 debt-to-$42,570 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #59 out of 119 programs, University of Alabama at Birmingham's Biomedical/Medical Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $42,570 to $85,321 over five years (100% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Alabama at Birmingham

University of Alabama at Birmingham has a 88% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 12,118 in Birmingham, AL.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Alabama at Birmingham →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr

Bioengineers and biomedical engineers $106,950/yr

Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr

View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Biomedical/Medical Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Alabama at Birmingham

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Alabama at Birmingham's Biomedical/Medical Engineering program score?

This program scores 59/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Biomedical/Medical Engineering graduates.

How vulnerable is Biomedical/Medical Engineering to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Biomedical/Medical Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 50% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why are Biomedical/Medical Engineering earnings lower at University of Alabama at Birmingham?

Lower starting pay at University of Alabama at Birmingham may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →