2027 Best Value Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania

[Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering](/majors/engineering/robotics-engineering/mechatronics-robotics-and-automation-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering students.
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2027 Best Value Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania
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
Our analysis ranked Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology the best value for a degree in mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering in Pennsylvania. Set in the city of Lancaster, Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,050. Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering graduates carry a median of $9,750 in student loans. Early-career mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering graduates make about $47,508. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering will find it at Pennsylvania Western University, which ranked #2. Located in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,436, while out-of-state students pay about $16,054. Students borrow a median of $28,263 to complete the mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering program here. Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering graduates of Pennsylvania Western University earn a median of $45,448 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,263 median debt. Pennsylvania Western University admits about 94% of applicants.
Widener University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Widener University Main Campus is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Chester. Students from in state pay about $55,730 in tuition and fees. Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,561 in student loans. Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering graduates of Widener University Main Campus earn a median of $60,864 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,561 median debt. Widener University Main Campus admits about 71% of applicants.
Carnegie Mellon University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering schools. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Students from in state pay about $65,636 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering graduates is $23,529. Soon after graduation, mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $89,327. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Drexel University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering schools. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,412. Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering graduates carry a median of $28,838 in student loans. Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $67,556 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Drexel University admits about 79% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.