2026 Best Value Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering Schools in Illinois
[Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering](/majors/engineering/robotics-engineering/mechatronics-robotics-and-automation-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering students.
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2026 Best Value Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering Schools
For return on investment in mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering, no school beat Rock Valley College this year. Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rockford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,334, compared with $7,379 for out-of-state students. Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering graduates carry a median of $9,236 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering degree recipients from Rock Valley College generally make around $41,080. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Southern Illinois University Edwardsville one of the best values for mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,092 in tuition and fees. Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,917 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $54,302. That is a strong return on a $23,917 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
