by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 92 U.S. colleges awarded 2,090 degrees and certificates in Robotics Engineering. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 53% of graduates. College Factual ranks 41 schools in its 2027 Best Robotics Engineering Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $75,263 one year after completing, rising to $108,707 after four years.
Robots used to be a thing of the future, but now they have been seamlessly incorporated into many parts of everyday life. From use in manufacturing to the armed forces, robots have aided humans in accomplishing a variety of tasks. If you're interested in becoming parts of this quickly developing field, consider majoring in Robotics Engineering.
As a Robotics Engineering major, you will learn how to build the robot framework, program its operating system, test the machine, and incorporate it into medical, transportation, and military fields. You will take classes in computer science, electrical and computer engineering, mathematics, operating systems, computer software, and mechanical engineering along with a variety of courses specific to the robotics field. A degree in Robotic Engineering will provide you with the skills to participate in a growing field that has an immediate impact on numerous industries.
Studying Robotics Engineering involves the study of Mechatronics, Robotics, And Automation Engineering.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, robotics engineering draws strong interest, with 2,090 degrees awarded annually. 92 colleges award robotics engineering degrees, an average of 23 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 228.
By level, the 2,090 awards include 57 certificates, 126 associate degrees, 641 bachelor’s degrees, 1,116 master’s degrees and 98 doctorates.
Women earned 16% of robotics engineering degrees and certificates in the latest year (343 of 2,090). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (799) and Asian (182), and international students earned 754.
College Factual ranks 41 schools in its 2027 Best Robotics Engineering Schools ranking, including 3 for associate degrees, 14 for bachelor’s degrees, 23 for master’s degrees and 4 for doctorates. It also ranks robotics engineering schools within 13 states. In all, 92 colleges offer robotics engineering programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Robotics Engineering Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common robotics engineering credential is the master’s degree: 1,116 of the 2,090 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to robotics engineering call most for Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Speaking, and for knowledge of Engineering and Technology, Mathematics and Design, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Students pursuing a degree in Robotics Engineering should have a strong background in mathematics and computer science. Advanced knowledge of operating systems will allow professionals to seamlessly incorporate robotics systems into a variety of manufacturing or production locations. Students who are successful in this field also have strong critical thinking skills and creativity. This allows them to analyze a scenario and develop unique robotic systems to accomplish certain tasks.
Robotics Engineers typically work full time in offices or in research and development labs. These environments provide professionals access to the computer systems necessary to develop, test, and maintain the various types of robotic systems currently used in manufacturing, agriculture, aviation, and a variety of other industries.
Bachelor's degrees are often sufficient for entry-level jobs in robotics engineering, but students should be prepared to earn their master's or doctorate if they wish to advance in the field.
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How long a robotics engineering degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 57 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 126 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 641 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,116 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 98 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to robotics engineering, at 30.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 30.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 29.6% |
| Master’s degree | 11.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 8.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 7.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.1% |
| Some college courses | 1.6% |
| First professional degree | 1.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
12 occupations are related to Robotics Engineering, with an average median salary of $92,493; the strongest outlook belongs to Solar Energy Systems Engineers, at 14.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Civil Engineering Teacher, Civil Engineering Professor, Electronic Science Teacher and Metallography Teacher.
Graduates with degrees in Robotics Engineering typically get jobs in robotics manufacturing firms. Some graduates have pursued careers where they oversee the maintenance and function of robotics systems within different fields. An advanced degree in this field also provides graduates the option to go into research and development or teach at universities.
Due to the rapid development of this field, graduates should come out of school with many career options. Those will advanced degrees and experience in the field will be more competitive in the job market.
The occupation related to robotics engineering with the most projected jobs is Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,297,204.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Nanosystems Engineers | 358,781 | -2.9% |
| Wind Energy Engineers | 353,305 | 12.7% |
| Engineers, All Other | 292,948 | -4.3% |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | 266,797 | 14.5% |
| Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar | 227,778 | 6.7% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
Robotics Engineering graduates earn a median $75,263 one year after completing their program, $108,707 after four years and $97,576 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $75,263 |
| 4 years | $108,707 |
| 5 years | $97,576 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to robotics engineering is Engineers, All Other, with a median salary of $136,628.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Engineers, All Other | $136,628 |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | $116,775 |
| Mechatronics Engineers | $115,569 |
| Microsystems Engineers | $104,558 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Wind Energy Engineers | $98,460 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Photonics Engineers | $84,667 |
Robotics Engineering includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering (2,090). It has 40 similar majors in the Engineering field, which together award 200,945 degrees a year; the largest are Mechanical Engineering (43,874), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (27,513) and Computer Engineering (21,335). Browse all Engineering majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering | 2,090 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 43,874 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 27,513 |
| Computer Engineering | 21,335 |
| Civil Engineering | 19,856 |
| Engineering, General | 14,789 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 14,592 |
| Chemical Engineering | 10,559 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 10,170 |
| Industrial Engineering | 8,023 |
| Systems Engineering | 4,489 |
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