Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 4 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Strong payoff
+$334,591 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
Observed earnings clearly outpace the comparison earnings and estimated education cost in this scenario.
4.4 yrsModeled economic break-even
+126%Modeled 10-year ROI
$105,016Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$105,016Median reported earnings · year 4
$97,576Average reported earnings · year 5
$27,000Median federal debt
96thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
4Reporting programs
3With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $67,344
- Federal debt
- $17,000
- Reporting programs
- 2
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $105,016
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Reporting programs
- 4
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $140,355
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$92,533National median$105,01675th percentile$105,016
3 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
4 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1Worcester Polytechnic InstituteWorcester, MA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$111,103Federal debt$27,000Annual net price$43,0712University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA · PublicYear-4 earnings$105,016Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$14,0913Middle Tennessee State UniversityMurfreesboro, TN · PublicYear-4 earnings$92,533Federal debt$20,000Annual net price$13,3594Kennesaw State UniversityKennesaw, GA · PublicYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$30,768Annual net price$15,048
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Worcester Polytechnic Institute$111,1032University of Washington-Seattle Campus$105,0163Middle Tennessee State University$92,5334Kennesaw State UniversityNot availableObserved year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Architectural and Engineering ManagersSOC 11-9041 · 1 crosswalk linksEngineering Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1032 · 1 crosswalk linksEngineers, All OtherSOC 17-2199 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Worcester Polytechnic InstituteBachelor's Degree | Worcester, MA | $111,103 | $27,000 | +88% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $105,016 | Not available | +154% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Middle Tennessee State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Murfreesboro, TN | $92,533 | $20,000 | +104% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | Kennesaw State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kennesaw, GA | Not available | $30,768 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $15,048 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.