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Engineering · Biological Engineering Rank #1 of 8

Biological Engineeringat University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Graduates earn $61,755/yr in their first year — about 6.0% above the national Biological Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $652K; scenarios range from $586K to $669K depending on AI disruption.

Lincoln, NE Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
65 SOLID
66
Optimistic
63
Pessimistic
Earnings
$61,755
1-year post-graduation
ROI
16.7x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$652K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
53% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Nebraska

This specialized engineering degree at UNL uniquely positions you for a dynamic career, particularly within the agricultural and food systems vital to Nebraska's economy and beyond. Your education here blends traditional engineering principles with biological sciences, preparing you for roles in bioprocessing, water resource management, precision agriculture technology, or sustainable energy solutions. The strong outcomes reflect consistent demand from regional industry, where a deep understanding of biological systems is critical for innovation and efficiency. While some routine tasks in any field face automation, your value will lie in complex problem-solving and system design, areas where human expertise remains paramount. To maximize your prospects, actively seek internships with local agricultural tech firms or food processing giants; these connections are invaluable.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$586K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score63/100
Earnings Multiple14.5x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$652K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score65/100
Earnings Multiple16.1x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$669K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score66/100
Earnings Multiple16.5x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Nebraska's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Biological Engineering graduates typically work

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.

1
Architectural and engineering managers
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 14,500 openings/yr
$167,740/yr
Moderate
2
Engineers, all other
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 9,300 openings/yr
$117,750/yr
Moderate
3
Bioengineers and biomedical engineers
+5.2% 10-yr growth · 1,300 openings/yr
$106,950/yr
High
4
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
+8.1% 10-yr growth · 4,100 openings/yr
$106,120/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Biological Engineering

How University of Nebraska stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
University of California-San Diego
CA · Public
52
DW Score
$67K
1-yr earn
10.0x
ROI
University of Georgia
GA · Public
54
DW Score
$63K
1-yr earn
13.1x
ROI
University of Missouri-Columbia
MO · Public
62
DW Score
$60K
1-yr earn
12.7x
ROI
Auburn University
AL · Public
63
DW Score
$59K
1-yr earn
14.0x
ROI
Oakland University
MI · Public
49
DW Score
$57K
1-yr earn
8.8x
ROI
Also at University of Nebraska

Other top programs at University of Nebraska

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Nebraska, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Biological Engineering at University of Nebraska

What does a 65/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Biological Engineering at University of Nebraska-Lincoln?

At 65/100, University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Biological Engineering program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.

Should I worry about AI if I study Biological Engineering at University of Nebraska-Lincoln?

The 49% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.

Is University of Nebraska-Lincoln one of the best schools for Biological Engineering?

Among 8 Biological Engineering programs, University of Nebraska-Lincoln's #1 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.