2026 Best Value Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region

[Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering](/majors/engineering/robotics-engineering/mechatronics-robotics-and-automation-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering schools.
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2026 Best Value Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region
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 Central Piedmont Community College the best value for a degree in mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering in the Southeast Region. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,792, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering graduates carry a median of $11,861 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $40,629. Set against $11,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bluegrass Community And Technical College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering schools. Located in the city of Lexington, Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,808, with out-of-state students paying around $6,512. Students borrow a median of $13,366 to complete the mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering program here. Soon after graduation, mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering degree recipients from Bluegrass Community And Technical College generally make around $44,431. Set against $13,366 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering schools. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,058, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans. Early-career mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering graduates make about $83,560. Set against $24,323 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Middle Tennessee State University one of the best values for mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete the mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering program here. Early-career mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering graduates make about $71,664. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Kennesaw State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering schools. Kennesaw State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kennesaw. In-state tuition and fees average $5,808, compared with $17,736 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $30,768 to complete the mechatronics, robotics, & automation engineering program here. Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering graduates of Kennesaw State University earn a median of $72,645 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.