Best Mechatronics Bachelor's Programs in Idaho, Ranked (2026)

The best mechatronics bachelor's program in Idaho, ranked

Pocatello, ID

BAS Robotics and Communications Systems Engineering Technology

Idaho State University

Idaho State University's BAS in Robotics and Communications Systems Engineering Technology is the only ABET-ETAC accredited robotics-titled program in Idaho. Three-year AAS-to-BAS pathway. Robotics Research Laboratory with VR and rehabilitation projects. Two-time SkillsUSA national electronics champions. Named partnerships with Micron and INL.

Tuition

$8,500/yr

Duration

48 mo

Format

On-campus

Accred.

ABET-ETAC

Hiring employers

Micron TechnologyIdaho National Laboratory

Visit program page →

Overall

of 100

Click any factor for details

25% 85

15% 60

15% 75

15% 70

15% 66

10% 70

5% 65

Why Idaho is one of the more distinctive mechatronics markets

Micron Technology is headquartered in Boise with 7,000+ employees plus $40+ billion in announced fab expansion. Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho Falls is the US Department of Energy's primary nuclear research lab with 5,000+ employees. Together they create unusually dense specialty engineering demand for Idaho's population. Plus HP Inc Boise (printer manufacturing legacy + broader R&D), J.R. Simplot Company Boise (food processing, agricultural products), Lamb Weston (frozen potato processing), Premier Technology Pocatello (modular construction for nuclear and industrial applications). Idaho engineering wages run $95K-$105K median (above national median), with cost of living at 92 percent of US average.

ISU BAS pathway: three-year AAS-to-BAS structure

Idaho State University's BAS (Bachelor of Applied Science) in Robotics and Communications Systems Engineering Technology is structured as a three-year AAS-to-BAS pathway. Students typically complete an AAS in Robotics and Communications Systems Engineering Technology first, then add one additional year to earn the BAS. Total program length: roughly 36 months from start.

The BAS is ABET-ETAC accredited (the technology track, valid for industry technologist careers). Robotics Research Laboratory at ISU includes VR and rehabilitation projects. ISU has won SkillsUSA national electronics championships twice. Named partnerships with Micron and INL feed graduates into Boise-area and Idaho Falls engineering employment. ABET-ETAC accreditation generally does not qualify for FE-to-PE licensure path; if you need PE licensure, Boise State BSME with Mechatronics Certificate or out-of-state ABET-EAC options are the alternatives.

Top Idaho employers hiring mechatronics engineers

Micron Technology (Boise + Treasure Valley)

7,000+ Boise employees. $40+ billion recent fab expansion. ISU is one of the named pipelines.

Idaho National Laboratory (Idaho Falls)

5,000+ employees. Nuclear research and broader DOE engineering work.

HP Inc Boise + J.R. Simplot + Lamb Weston

The broader Boise-area corporate engineering and food-processing employer base.

Premier Technology (Pocatello)

Modular construction for nuclear and industrial applications. INL-adjacent supplier.

Mechatronics engineer salary in Idaho

SOC 17-2141 in ID: median around $87,000 to $97,000.
SOC 17-2199 in ID: median around $95,000 to $105,000.
SOC 17-2071 in ID: median around $98,000 to $108,000.
Entry-level BS graduates typically start around $70,000 to $82,000.
Cost of living in Idaho: around 92 percent of US average. Boise metro at 100 percent. Rural ID at 85-90 percent.

Paying for an Idaho mechatronics bachelor's

ISU in-state tuition: around $8,500/year. Three-year BAS sequence around $25,500.
Boise State in-state tuition: around $8,800/year. Four-year BSME around $35,000.
Idaho Opportunity Scholarship: state need-based aid for ID residents.
Federal Pell Grants: up to $7,395/year.
WICHE WUE: students from WICHE-member states pay 150 percent of in-state tuition.

How we ranked Idaho mechatronics programs

7-factor methodology: accreditation (25%), leadership (15%), pathways (15%), delivery (15%), employer signal (15%), cost (10%), reputation (5%). See full methodology. ISU scores well on accreditation (only ABET-ETAC robotics in ID) and pathways (three-year AAS-to-BAS structure).

Idaho mechatronics bachelor's: frequently asked questions

Where can I study mechatronics engineering in Idaho?

Idaho State University's BAS in Robotics and Communications Systems Engineering Technology in Pocatello is the only ABET-ETAC accredited robotics-titled program in Idaho. Three-year AAS-to-BAS pathway. Boise State University offers a Mechatronics Certificate as a 12-credit add-on to its ABET-EAC accredited BSME for students who want a mechatronics specialization inside a traditional mechanical engineering degree. For students wanting a standalone robotics-titled bachelor's, ISU is the only option.

What does an Idaho mechatronics engineer earn?

BLS state OEWS for SOC 17-2199 in ID shows median wages around $95,000 to $105,000. Entry-level BS graduates start around $70,000 to $82,000. Micron Boise (the company's headquarters and largest US site by Boise employment), Idaho National Laboratory, HP Inc Boise, and Treasure Valley manufacturers pay at the upper end. ID cost of living runs around 92 percent of US average.

Is ISU's BAS the same as a BS?

Functionally yes for industry hiring. A BAS (Bachelor of Applied Science) is structured for AAS-completers to ladder up to a four-year credential. ISU's BAS in Robotics and Communications Systems Engineering Technology is ABET-ETAC accredited (the technology track, valid for industry technologist careers). The three-year AAS-to-BAS pathway makes it the most cost-effective route to a robotics-titled four-year credential in Idaho. ABET-ETAC is generally not valid for the FE-to-PE licensure path; if you need PE licensure, consider Boise State BSME with Mechatronics Certificate or out-of-state ABET-EAC options.

Sources

BLS OEWS for SOC 17-2141, 17-2199, 17-2071 in Idaho, May 2024 release.
Idaho State University Robotics.
Boise State Mechatronics Certificate.
NWCCU institutional accreditation.