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Biomedical Engineering at University of California-Merced

Merced, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Biomedical/Medical Engineering

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $57,223/yr (-10% vs median)

AI Risk High (50% exposed)

Job Market Medium (19,900 openings/yr)

ROI 14.6x earnings multiple (4.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #39 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 Engineering graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$858K	$826K	$708K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	15.1x	14.6x	12.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.8x	4.6x	3.9x
Probability of Field Employment	73%	67%	48%
DegreeOutlook Score	65	64	62

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$56,668

Out-of-state: $179,776 (4.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$50,976

10% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,816

4.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$89,244

56% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $57,223 track close to the $63,751 national median for Biomedical Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 14.6x 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.

At $20,816 in median debt against $57,223 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #39 out of 119 programs, University of California-Merced's Biomedical Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $57,223 to $89,244 over five years (56% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of California-Merced

University of California-Merced admits 39% of applicants, placing it among selective institutions, with a mid-sized student body of 8,372 in Merced, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 59% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

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

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 Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of California-Merced

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 California-Merced's Biomedical Engineering program score?

This program scores 64/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Biomedical Engineering graduates.

How vulnerable is Biomedical Engineering to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Biomedical 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.

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