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Engineering · Biological Engineering Rank #2 of 8

Biological Engineeringat Utah State University

Graduates earn $52,951/yr in their first year — about 9.0% below the national Biological Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $683K; scenarios range from $608K to $703K depending on AI disruption.

Logan, UT Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
64 SOLID
65
Optimistic
62
Pessimistic
Earnings
$52,951
1-year post-graduation
ROI
18.8x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$683K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
53% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Utah State University

Your path in Biological/Biosystems Engineering at Utah State positions you for a unique niche. The regional labor market in Utah and the Mountain West plays a significant role in initial earnings, often differing from major biotech hubs on the coasts that might skew national averages. USU's program likely emphasizes practical applications, potentially leaning into agricultural engineering, environmental systems, or food processing, which are strong industries in the region. You'll gain a robust engineering foundation, but the local industry landscape often dictates starting salaries and initial career trajectories.

To counteract the field's higher AI risk and maximize your post-graduation prospects, actively seek out internships with diverse employers—from local agricultural tech companies to larger medical device firms outside the state. This hands-on experience and a broadened network are crucial for shaping your career and understanding where your specialized skills are most valued.

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
$608K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score62/100
Earnings Multiple16.5x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$683K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score64/100
Earnings Multiple18.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$703K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score65/100
Earnings Multiple19.1x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Utah State University'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 Utah State University 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
Top score
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
NE · Public
65
DW Score
$62K
1-yr earn
16.7x
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
Also at Utah State University

Other top programs at Utah State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Utah State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Biological Engineering at Utah State University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biological Engineering at Utah State University?

A score of 64/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Biological Engineering field.

Will AI replace Biological Engineering careers?

With 49% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $608,422 in decade earnings vs $703,382 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Utah State University's Biological Engineering program stand out?

Ranked #2 of 8 programs nationally, Utah State University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.