by our College Data Analytics TeamRobots used to be a thing of the future, but now they have been seamlessly incorporated into many parts of everyday life. From use in manufacturing to the armed forces, robots have aided humans in accomplishing a variety of tasks. If you're interested in becoming parts of this quickly developing field, consider majoring in Robotics Engineering.
As a Robotics Engineering major, you will learn how to build the robot framework, program its operating system, test the machine, and incorporate it into medical, transportation, and military fields. You will take classes in computer science, electrical and computer engineering, mathematics, operating systems, computer software, and mechanical engineering along with a variety of courses specific to the robotics field. A degree in Robotic Engineering will provide you with the skills to participate in a growing field that has an immediate impact on numerous industries.
In 2021-2022, robotics engineering was the 230th most popular major nationwide with 1,234 degrees awarded. Our 2025 Best Robotics Engineering Schools ranking analyzes 22 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for robotics engineering students. Explore this or one of our many other custom robotics engineering rankings further below.
Students pursuing a degree in Robotics Engineering should have a strong background in mathematics and computer science. Advanced knowledge of operating systems will allow professionals to seamlessly incorporate robotics systems into a variety of manufacturing or production locations. Students who are successful in this field also have strong critical thinking skills and creativity. This allows them to analyze a scenario and develop unique robotic systems to accomplish certain tasks.
Robotics Engineers typically work full time in offices or in research and development labs. These environments provide professionals access to the computer systems necessary to develop, test, and maintain the various types of robotic systems currently used in manufacturing, agriculture, aviation, and a variety of other industries.
Bachelor's degrees are often sufficient for entry-level jobs in robotics engineering, but students should be prepared to earn their master's or doctorate if they wish to advance in the field.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most robotics engineering degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. In addition to these basic robotics engineering program qualifications, to serve in some robotics engineering careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
Robotics Engineering degree levels vary. Robotics Engineering programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest robotics engineering degree you can get. Depending on the robotics engineering degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to robotics engineering, with approximately 56.3% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for robotics engineering workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 58.6% |
| Master’s Degree | 14.9% |
| Doctoral Degree | 8.9% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 6.2% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 4.7% |
92.2% of robotics engineering workers have at least a bachelor's. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in robotics engineering have received.
This of course varies depending on which robotics engineering career you choose.
Graduates with degrees in Robotics Engineering typically get jobs in robotics manufacturing firms. Some graduates have pursued careers where they oversee the maintenance and function of robotics systems within different fields. An advanced degree in this field also provides graduates the option to go into research and development or teach at universities.
Due to the rapid development of this field, graduates should come out of school with many career options. Those will advanced degrees and experience in the field will be more competitive in the job market.
Want a job when you graduate with your robotics engineering degree? Robotics Engineering careers are expected to grow 7.1% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to robotics engineering.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 190,000 | 5.5% |
| Engineers | 141,000 | 6.4% |
| Engineering Professors | 54,600 | 14.7% |
Robotics Engineering graduates between <nil> reported earning an average of $78,410 in the <nil> timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $47,508 to as high as $90,263. As you might expect, salaries for robotics engineering graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for robotics engineering graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers robotics engineering grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $148,970 |
| Engineering Professors | $113,680 |
| Engineers | $99,410 |
With over 148 different robotics engineering degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased robotics engineering school rankings to help you with this.
Robotics Engineering is one of 41 different types of Engineering programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mechatronics, Robotics, & Automation Engineering | 1,234 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 44,794 |
| Electrical Engineering | 26,528 |
| Civil Engineering | 20,655 |
| Computer Engineering | 16,954 |
| Biomedical Engineering | 13,222 |
