Biomedical/Medical Engineering at University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
69 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
70
Optimistic
69
Base Case
67
Pessimistic
Earnings $67,170/yr (5% vs median)
AI Risk High (50% exposed)
Job Market Medium (19,900 openings/yr)
ROI 17.3x earnings multiple (5.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #10 of 119 Biomedical/Medical Engineering programs Top 10%

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 $1,036K $988K $824K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.2x 17.3x 14.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.8x 5.5x 4.6x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 67% 48%
DegreeOutlook Score 70 69 67

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$56,948
Out-of-state: $180,056 (5.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,360
10% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,750
3.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$109,350
63% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $67,170/yr, edging above the $63,751 national average for Biomedical/Medical Engineering — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Biomedical/Medical Engineering programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Biomedical/Medical Engineering's typical career paths, with 50% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 20% gap from the optimistic case.

At $16,750 in median debt against $67,170 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #10 of 119 programs, University of California-Irvine's Biomedical/Medical Engineering program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $109,350 show a 63% jump from the $67,170 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of California-Irvine

University of California-Irvine admits 26% of applicants, placing it among selective institutions, serving a student body of 29,494 in Irvine, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Irvine →

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 California-Irvine

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biomedical/Medical Engineering at University of California-Irvine?
A score of 69/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Biomedical/Medical Engineering field.
Will AI replace Biomedical/Medical Engineering careers?
With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $823,713 in decade earnings vs $1,036,040 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →