Bachelor's · Birmingham, Alabama

Is Biomedical/Medical Engineering at University of Alabama at Birmingham worth it?

Low confidence Low confidence: fewer than 40 graduates behind the earnings figures.

The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans

Pays back fast: graduates typically recover the cost in about 2.2 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating: $58,990; Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating: $97,117; Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation: $17,070; NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families: $66k (likely $66k – $88k); AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4: $62k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in AL; 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback: 2.2 years (likely 1.7–3.1); Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return: $368k (likely $192k – $561k); Today's dollars
20-year net return: $1.12M (likely $742k – $1.55M); Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide): 66%; Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26

Change income, residency or loans Compare Biomedical/Medical Engineering at other schools

🏗️ Getting ready in high school

Students heading toward engineering & architecture majors like this one often take these classes. Every school offers a different mix, so check with your counselor.

AP classes

AP Calculus AB or BC
AP Physics 1
AP Physics C: Mechanics
AP Chemistry

IB Higher Level

Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL
Physics HL

Build my roadmap 🗺️ Middle school to career, plus high schools near you that offer these classes.