Biomedical/Medical Engineering at The University of Texas at Arlington

UTA's biomedical engineering graduates earn $42,000 in their first year—about 35% less than the Texas median and roughly $23,000 below the national benchmark. Among nine Texas programs, this ranks near the bottom quartile, trailing not just elite Rice but also fellow UT system schools in San Antonio, Dallas, and Austin. This gap is particularly stark given that many students here carry substantial debt loads: the typical graduate owes $26,000, which is actually above the state median despite the lower earnings.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62 means graduates owe roughly seven and a half months of pre-tax income, which is manageable on paper. However, the core issue is that starting salary—biomedical engineering typically commands strong compensation, and graduates here are missing out on an extra $17,000 annually compared to peers at other Texas schools. Over a career, that differential compounds significantly.

For families looking at this program, the 81% admission rate and accessible price point may seem appealing, but the earnings data suggests graduates aren't competing effectively for the higher-paying positions that make engineering degrees worthwhile. If biomedical engineering is the goal, students with competitive credentials should strongly consider UT Dallas, UT San Antonio, or Texas A&M, where outcomes more closely match the investment in an engineering education.