What can you do with a Bioengineering degree?

First, some facts. Of the Bioengineering graduates we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 96 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 77%, Bioengineering graduates have a higher likelihood (+10%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 77%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, 60% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Bioengineering graduate.

See the details:

View a random Bioengineering graduate and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2020 from University of California, Merced with a Bachelor of Engineering - BE in Bioengineering. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Manufacturing Bioprocess Technician
Genentech
Oct 2020 - Present
The position of a Manufacturing Bioprocess Technician directly applies knowledge and skills gained from a Bioengineering degree, focusing on bioprocesses and biomanufacturing practices essential in this role.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Bioengineering degree?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


When looking at the career paths of individuals who studied bioengineering, it’s clear that the jobs they pursue often cover a wide spectrum. There are several common themes, but the relevance of these roles to their bioengineering degrees varies significantly. In general, many eco-centric positions, management roles, and tech jobs exist alongside careers firmly rooted in the application of bioengineering principles. Primarily, jobs within the medical device and pharmaceuticals sectors tend to strongly correlate with the bioengineering degree, but many people find themselves in roles that leverage their broad analytical skills rather than strictly their technical training.

From my analysis, I noticed that a significant number of graduates went into roles like research scientists, R&D engineers, and clinical engineers, all of which directly apply their bioengineering knowledge. For example, roles at companies like Edwards Lifesciences and Genentech typically align with the core skills learned in a bioengineering program and involve tasks like designing or testing medical devices. On the other hand, many graduates also ventured into positions such as marketing analysts, project managers, or software engineers, which often don't utilize bioengineering-specific skills on a daily basis. These roles seem to emphasize transferable skills like project management or technical analysis more than the intense scientific background that comes with a bioengineering education. This indicates that while having a degree in bioengineering opens doors to various careers, the degree’s direct application may not always be apparent in everyday job duties.

Overall, it’s fascinating to see how versatile a bioengineering degree can be. Many graduates are harnessing their analytical skills in roles that intersect with technology and healthcare, but it’s evident that not everyone finds themselves in a bioengineering-centric position. While some jobs are clearly relevant and allow individuals to implement their areas of expertise, a considerable proportion of graduates end up in roles where their bioengineering training isn't as evident. The takeaway is that the bioengineering field is broad and that while the foundational knowledge is there, graduates often choose or find themselves aligned with careers that require varied skill sets beyond strict technical knowledge.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Bioengineering graduates:

What kind of career trajectories do Bioengineering graduates have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Based on the analysis of the LinkedIn profiles of bioengineering graduates, it's clear that many of them have found success in a range of fields that are often closely related to their studies. Initially, most students tend to land jobs that are either internships or entry-level positions that offer exposure to the industry, such as research assistant roles or engineering positions. As seen in the profiles, positions like "Research Assistant," "Process Development Associate," and "Clinical Engineer" are common first steps for recent bioengineering grads. These roles help graduates build relevant skills and gain hands-on experience, which is crucial for their career advancement.

Looking five to ten years down the line, it's evident that many of these graduates have moved into more advanced and specialized roles. For instance, those who started as research associates or engineering technicians are often stepping into senior engineer or project manager positions. It's also noteworthy that some graduates seem to have transitioned smoothly into higher education, with many pursuing medical degrees or advanced research roles in academia. This suggests that bioengineering provides a solid foundation for various career paths—whether in industry, research, or medicine.

However, while many graduates seem to be thriving, a few profiles indicate career trajectories that diverge from traditional bioengineering roles. Some individuals have taken more business-oriented approaches or shifted into unrelated fields entirely. For example, a couple of graduates shifted into roles like marketing or project management in non-engineering sectors. This may imply that while a solid segment of bioengineering graduates remains focused on their field, others may explore diverse career options, sometimes straying far from the core of bioengineering.

In conclusion, the career trajectories of bioengineering graduates largely reflect a blend of stability and versatility. Many individuals are finding solid opportunities relevant to their studies right out of university and advancing toward senior positions as their careers progress. Meanwhile, a subset appears willing to explore varied paths, showcasing the adaptability of a bioengineering degree in today's job market. Overall, it seems that bioengineering alumni have a promising outlook, with plenty of them making meaningful contributions in their respective fields.

How hard is a Bioengineering degree?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Bioengineering can be pretty challenging—definitely on the harder side of things compared to some other degrees. You'll be diving into a mix of biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering, which means you need to be ready for some intense math and science courses. It’s not just theory; you’ll also have to solve real-world problems, which requires a lot of critical thinking and creativity. If you enjoy science and are passionate about how it all connects, it can be super rewarding, but don’t be fooled—there will be late-night study sessions and tough exams along the way!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Bioengineering.

Do Bioengineering graduates tend to make good money?

When looking at the career paths of bioengineering graduates, it’s clear that many have found themselves in pretty lucrative positions, especially those who've gone into well-known companies or fields like pharmaceuticals and medical devices. For example, graduates from schools like Rice University and the University of Pennsylvania have notably landed roles that likely pay quite well—such as R&D, project management, or medical specialties—those kinds of jobs usually have pretty decent salaries attached to them. Even the ones that started with internships or entry-level roles often moved up quickly into more substantial positions.

On the flip side, some graduates seemed to start in roles that may not command high salaries, like hospital positions or project-based research roles that often tend to pay less initially. It really varies based on the industry; for instance, those who entered engineering or tech companies in sectors like software or consulting are probably raking it in compared to others. Overall, if you're aiming for high earning potential in bioengineering, look for roles in biopharma, healthcare tech, and engineering management—they tend to pay the most! It's a mixed bag, but generally, bioengineering can lead to solid financial success if you make the right choices along the way.

What buzzwords do Bioengineering graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Bioengineering. This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Bioengineering?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Bioengineering (ordered by the average relevance score of their Bioengineering graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count