Biomedical/Medical Engineering at University of Michigan-Dearborn

Something appears significantly wrong with this biomedical engineering program's early outcomes. At $38,593, first-year earnings fall nearly $26,000 below both the state and national medians for this degree—landing in just the 10th percentile among Michigan programs. Compare this to the flagship Ann Arbor campus, where biomedical engineering graduates earn $70,307, or even Lawrence Tech at $64,298. While the $31,000 debt load sits slightly above typical levels, the real problem is the earnings floor, which creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.80—manageable only if salaries climb quickly.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers could reflect timing issues, outliers, or graduates who took gap years rather than entering the workforce immediately. However, even accounting for statistical noise, a $26,000 gap from peer programs deserves serious scrutiny. At a school where 44% of students receive Pell grants, many families are counting on this engineering degree to deliver solid middle-class earnings right away.

Before committing to this program, investigate placement rates and whether graduates are actually working in biomedical engineering roles. If your child can gain admission to Michigan Tech, Lawrence Tech, or especially Ann Arbor's program, the earning potential appears substantially stronger. If Dearborn is the only viable option, understand you're taking on uncertainty that these low initial numbers don't reflect the program's typical trajectory.