2027 Best Value Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering](/majors/engineering/robotics-engineering/mechatronics-robotics-and-automation-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering students.
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2027 Best Value Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering Schools
Leading the list is Lorain County Community College, our #1 best value for mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the suburb of Elyria, Lorain County Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,265, compared with $8,860 for out-of-state students. Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,611 in student loans. Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering graduates of Lorain County Community College earn a median of $40,095 early in their careers. Set against $17,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rock Valley College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering schools. Located in the city of Rockford, Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,334, with out-of-state students paying around $7,379. Students borrow a median of $9,236 to complete the mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering program here. Soon after graduation, mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering degree recipients from Rock Valley College generally make around $41,080. That is a strong return on a $9,236 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Oakland University one of the best values for mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,167, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Students borrow a median of $25,972 to complete the mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering program here. Early-career mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering graduates make about $54,785. That is a strong return on a $25,972 median debt. Oakland University admits about 88% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering will find it at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #4. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Typical student debt for mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering graduates is $19,137. Soon after graduation, mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. That is a strong return on a $19,137 median debt. The acceptance rate is 16%.
University Of Michigan Dearborn came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering schools. Located in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,640, while out-of-state students pay about $32,896. Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,516 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering degree recipients from University Of Michigan Dearborn generally make around $62,536. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Lake Superior State University earned the #6 position for value in mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering this year. Lake Superior State University is a small public school located in the town of Sault Ste Marie. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,890. Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,429 in student loans. Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering graduates of Lake Superior State University earn a median of $47,910 early in their careers. Set against $22,429 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Michigan Technological University placed #7 among the best values for mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $20,532 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,800 in student loans. Early-career mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering graduates make about $64,652. Set against $25,800 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville placed #8 among the best values for mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,092. Students borrow a median of $23,917 to complete the mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering program here. Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $54,302 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
University Of Toledo placed #9 among the best values for mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering. University Of Toledo is a large public school located in the city of Toledo. In-state tuition and fees average $12,157, compared with $21,517 for out-of-state students. Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,923 in student loans. Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering graduates of University Of Toledo earn a median of $52,675 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,923 median debt. University Of Toledo admits about 92% of applicants.
Illinois Institute Of Technology placed #10 among the best values for mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,202. Students borrow a median of $26,774 to complete the mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering program here. Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of $71,315 early in their careers. Set against $26,774 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Illinois Institute Of Technology admits about 55% of applicants.
Kent State University At Kent placed #11 among the best values for mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,220 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,174 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $44,776. Set against $25,174 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #12 among the best values for mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete the mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering program here. Soon after graduation, mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $58,659. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.