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Biomedical/Medical Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $54,133/yr (-15% vs median)

AI Risk High (50% exposed)

Job Market Medium (19,900 openings/yr)

ROI 10.8x earnings multiple (4.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #74 of 119 Biomedical/Medical Engineering programs

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	$732K	$711K	$626K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.1x	10.8x	9.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.7x	4.6x	4.0x
Probability of Field Employment	73%	67%	48%
DegreeOutlook Score	59	58	56

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$65,832

Out-of-state: $156,168 (4.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$77,808

-18% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,250

4.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$76,242

41% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $54,133 per year, Biomedical/Medical Engineering graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University earn below the $63,751 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Biomedical/Medical Engineering programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Biomedical/Medical Engineering's typical career paths, with 50% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 15% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $22,250 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #74 of 119 Biomedical/Medical Engineering programs, Virginia Commonwealth University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $54,133 to $76,242 over five years — a 41% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Virginia Commonwealth University

With 93% of applicants admitted, Virginia Commonwealth University prioritizes broad access, with 20,797 students enrolled in Richmond, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Virginia Commonwealth University →

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 Virginia Commonwealth University

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biomedical/Medical Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University?

This program scores 58/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Biomedical/Medical Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

Will AI replace Biomedical/Medical Engineering careers?

With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $625,623 in decade earnings vs $732,428 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Biomedical/Medical Engineering from Virginia Commonwealth University?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

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