Biomedical Engineeringat University of California-Riverside
Graduates earn $61,342/yr in their first year — about 4.0% below the national Biomedical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $839K; scenarios range from $717K to $873K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UC Riverside
At $61,342/yr, Biomedical Engineering graduates from University of California-Riverside land near the $63,751 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Biomedical Engineering programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Biomedical Engineering's typical career paths, with 50% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 18% gap from the optimistic case.
The median debt load of $19,954 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
At #24 of 119 nationally, this is a top-5% Biomedical Engineering program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Five-year earnings of $92,140 show a 50% jump from the $61,342 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to UC Riverside's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Biomedical Engineering
How UC Riverside stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UC Riverside
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UC Riverside, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Biomedical Engineering offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Biomedical Engineering trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Biomedical Engineering at UC Riverside
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biomedical Engineering at University of California-Riverside?
A score of 66/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Biomedical Engineering field.
Will AI replace Biomedical Engineering careers?
With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $717,035 in decade earnings vs $872,536 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of California-Riverside's Biomedical Engineering program stand out?
Ranked #24 of 119 programs nationally, University of California-Riverside lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.