The 4 best mechatronics AAS programs in Texas, ranked
TX runs four mechatronics-titled community college AAS programs spread across Houston, DFW, San Antonio, and statewide via TSTC. Each has different employer-pipeline strengths.
San Antonio, TX
AAS in Automated Industrial Process Mechatronics
St. Philip's College
St. Philip's College in the Alamo Colleges District runs an Automated Industrial Process Mechatronics AAS structured as the top of a three-tier stackable ladder (Level 1 Certificate to Level 2 to AAS). HSI-designated institution serving San Antonio's manufacturing workforce. Toyota Texas truck plant, Caterpillar, and JCB are primary employer targets.
Tuition
$2,500/yr
Duration
24 mo
Format
On-campus
Accred.
Regionally accredited (SACSCOC)
Hiring employers
Overall
71
of 100
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Houston, TX
AAS in Robotics-Automated Manufacturing Technology
Lone Star College
Lone Star College's Robotics-Automated Manufacturing Technology AAS (formerly Mechatronics Technician) prepares students for industrial automation roles across PLCs, robotics, hydraulics, and pneumatics in the Houston-area petrochemical and manufacturing corridor. Graduates earn the MSSC Certified Production Technician credential and can articulate into SFA's BS in Engineering at LSC-Kingwood. ExxonMobil Baytown and Chevron Phillips at Bayport are primary employer targets.
Tuition
$3,600/yr
Duration
24 mo
Format
On-campus
Accred.
Regionally accredited (SACSCOC)
Hiring employers
Overall
69
of 100
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Dallas, TX
AAS in Electro Mechanical Technology
Dallas College
Dallas College's Electro Mechanical Technology AAS at the Eastfield and Mountain View campuses merges electronics, mechanics, fluid power, PLC/computer controls, sensors, transducers and actuators in a single 60-credit AAS. The program positions graduates as technicians ready to adapt to ongoing industry automation changes across the broader DFW manufacturing employer base.
Tuition
$2,970/yr
Duration
24 mo
Format
On-campus
Accred.
Regionally accredited (SACSCOC)
Overall
68
of 100
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Harlingen, TX
AAS in Mechatronics Technology
Texas State Technical College
Texas State Technical College's Mechatronics Technology AAS is one of the few state-funded technical-college mechatronics degrees in Texas. TSTC's Money-Back Guarantee places graduates statewide. The program is transitioning to an Advanced Manufacturing title in Fall 2026 per official TSTC communications, but currently enrolls under the mechatronics name. Available at multiple TSTC campuses.
Tuition
$5,500/yr
Duration
20 mo
Format
On-campus
Accred.
Regionally accredited (SACSCOC)
Overall
66
of 100
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Why Texas is one of the top mechatronics technician states
Texas has the second-largest manufacturing workforce in the US (about 920,000 jobs) plus the densest US semiconductor cluster outside Arizona. Samsung Austin Semiconductor, the under-construction Samsung Taylor fab ($17B+ investment), Texas Instruments Dallas, Globalfoundries, and NXP Austin together create one of the largest mechatronics-technician employer bases in the country. Tesla Austin Gigafactory is the largest single TX manufacturing facility. Lockheed Martin Fort Worth (F-35 production) employs about 18,000. Plus the historic Houston petrochemical and oil-and-gas engineering base, the Bell Helicopter Fort Worth + NASA Johnson Space Center aerospace cluster, plus growing EV and battery manufacturing investment.
Top Texas employers hiring mechatronics technicians
Samsung Austin Semiconductor + Samsung Taylor
Samsung's Austin fab plus the under-construction Taylor fab ($17B+ investment, operational 2026+). Largest semiconductor employer in TX. Equipment-maintenance technicians and process-equipment specialists hire in the thousands.
Texas Instruments (Dallas headquarters + multi-site)
TI headquartered in Dallas with major semiconductor manufacturing across the metro. Analog and embedded chip manufacturing.
Tesla Austin Gigafactory
Largest single TX manufacturing facility. Builds Model Y, Cybertruck, plus battery cell manufacturing. Heavy automation across body shop, paint, final assembly, and battery production.
Lockheed Martin Fort Worth Aeronautics
F-35 Joint Strike Fighter production. About 18,000 employees. One of the largest single defense engineering operations in the US.
Toyota Manufacturing Texas (San Antonio)
Toyota's San Antonio truck plant builds Tundra and Sequoia. Heavily automated assembly. St. Philip's College is the primary technician pipeline.
Houston petrochemical corridor
ExxonMobil Baytown, Chevron Phillips at Bayport, Dow Chemical, plus dozens of Tier-1 refining and petrochemical operations. Heavy process-automation mechatronics work.
Bell Helicopter (Fort Worth) + NASA Johnson Space Center (Houston)
Bell's commercial and military helicopter production. NASA's human spaceflight center. Specialized aerospace mechatronics.
Mechatronics technician salary in Texas
- Mechanical Engineering Technologists (SOC 17-3027) in TX: median around $62,000 to $70,000.
- Mechanical Engineering Technicians (SOC 17-3024) in TX: median around $58,000 to $65,000.
- Entry-level AAS graduate wages: $46,000 to $58,000 typical. Samsung Austin, Tesla Austin, and Lockheed Fort Worth pay at the upper end.
- Cost of living in Houston and San Antonio runs around 95 percent of US average, Dallas around 100 percent, Austin around 110 percent.
From AAS to bachelor's: Texas transfer pathways
- Texas A&M BS in Multidisciplinary Engineering Technology with Mechatronics Track (ABET-ETAC): College Station. Largest US engineering school by enrollment.
- Stephen F. Austin State University BS in Mechatronics Engineering Technology: Nacogdoches. New Fall 2025 launch.
- UNT Electromechanical Systems and Mechatronics Certificate: Denton. University-level certificate.
- ECPI University online BS in ESET with Mechatronics Concentration (ABET-ETAC): available to TX residents who can't relocate.
Best Texas cities for mechatronics technician careers
Houston metro
Home to Lone Star College. Petrochemical corridor, NASA Johnson Space Center, plus broader Houston manufacturing.
DFW (Dallas-Fort Worth)
Home to Dallas College. TI Dallas, Lockheed Martin Fort Worth, Bell Helicopter. Densest engineering employer cluster in TX.
San Antonio
Home to St. Philip's College. Toyota Texas, plus growing defense and tech.
Austin metro
Samsung Austin, Tesla Austin Gigafactory. Highest engineering wages in TX. Highest cost of living among TX metros.
Taylor, TX
Samsung's under-construction $17B+ fab. New mechatronics hiring wave through 2030.
Harlingen / Rio Grande Valley
Home to TSTC main campus. Border-region manufacturing plus growing supply chain employers.
How we ranked Texas mechatronics AAS programs
Every program scored on our 7-factor methodology. See the full methodology breakdown. All four TX programs are SACSCOC-accredited community colleges. Differentiators are employer signal, vendor partnerships, and continuation pathways.
Texas mechatronics AAS: frequently asked questions
Which Texas community college has the best mechatronics AAS?
What does a mechatronics technician earn in Texas?
Can I transfer a TX mechatronics AAS to a bachelor's?
What's the Texas State Technical College Money-Back Guarantee?
Is Texas a good state for mechatronics technician careers?
Sources
- BLS OEWS for SOC 17-3024 and 17-3027 in Texas, May 2024 release.
- Office of the Governor, Texas Economic Development: state manufacturing and semiconductor investment data.
- Lone Star College Robotics-Automated Manufacturing Technology AAS.
- Dallas College Electro Mechanical Technology AAS.
- St. Philip's College Automated Industrial Process Mechatronics AAS.
- Texas State Technical College Mechatronics Technology AAS.
- Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board: TEXAS Grant and state aid programs.