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Biomedical/Medical Engineering at University of California-Merced

Merced, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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/Medical 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/Medical 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/Medical 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/Medical 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/Medical Engineering program score?

This program scores 64/100, 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.

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