Biomedical Engineering at University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Biomedical/Medical Engineering
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
70
Optimistic
69
Base Case
67
Pessimistic
Earnings
$65,045/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk
High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Medium (19,900 openings/yr)
ROI
18.0x earnings multiple (6.0x out-of-state)
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 | $1,157K | $1,098K | $902K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 18.9x | 18.0x | 14.8x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 6.3x | 6.0x | 4.9x |
| 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)
$61,060
Out-of-state: $184,168 (6.0x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,000
3.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$118,528
82% growth from Year 1
About University of California-San Diego
University of California-San Diego admits 25% of applicants, placing it among selective institutions, serving a student body of 33,787 in La Jolla, CA.
See all programs and financial aid at University of California-San Diego →Top Career Paths
Architectural and engineering managers
$167,740/yr
Bioengineers and biomedical engineers
$106,950/yr
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
$106,120/yr
Compare & Explore
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Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does University of California-San Diego's Biomedical Engineering program score?
This program scores 69/100, 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 →