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

The 2 best mechatronics bachelor's programs in New Hampshire, ranked

Why New Hampshire is a small but solid mechatronics engineering market

BAE Systems Nashua is NH's largest defense employer (5,000+ employees, F-35 electronic warfare). DEKA Research and Development Manchester is Dean Kamen's medical robotics company. Hypertherm Hanover (industrial plasma cutting). Sig Sauer Newington and Sturm Ruger Newport (firearms manufacturing). Lonza Pharma Portsmouth (biopharma). Pratt & Whitney NH operations. Plus Mass-border commute access to Symbotic Wilmington MA (warehouse robotics) and Bose Framingham MA. NH engineering wages run $98K-$108K median (SOC 17-2199), above national median.

Plymouth State BS vs APB: choosing the right path

Plymouth State BS in Robotics (traditional 4-year): 120 credits, 4 years. Includes broader liberal arts coursework. Best fit for traditional first-time four-year students starting from high school.

Plymouth State Robotics and Automation Engineering APB (3-year accelerated): 96 credits, 3 years. Launched Fall 2025. Applied curriculum focused on technical content. Saves one year of tuition versus the traditional BS. Best fit for students who already have transfer credits, who want to finish faster, or who came from an applied associate background.

Both feature Plymouth State's $1 million federally funded robotics lab with FANUC collaborative robots, CNC, 3D printing, and laser cutting equipment. ABET accreditation pending first graduates for both (standard for new programs).

Top New Hampshire employers hiring mechatronics engineers

BAE Systems Nashua

5,000+ employees. NH's largest defense employer. F-35 electronic warfare components.

DEKA Research and Development (Manchester)

Dean Kamen's medical device and robotics company. iBOT wheelchair, medical robotics. Specialty engineering work.

Hypertherm (Hanover)

Industrial plasma cutting equipment. Major upper-NH mechatronics-engineering employer.

Lonza Pharma Portsmouth + Pratt & Whitney NH

Biopharma manufacturing + jet engine manufacturing. Process automation and aerospace engineering.

Mass-border commute access

Symbotic Wilmington MA (warehouse robotics). Bose Framingham MA. Boston-area engineering employment within commute.

Mechatronics engineer salary in New Hampshire

• SOC 17-2141 in NH: median around $88,000 to $98,000.
• SOC 17-2199 in NH: median around $98,000 to $108,000.
• SOC 17-2071 in NH: median around $102,000 to $112,000.
• Entry-level BS graduates typically start around $72,000 to $85,000.
• Cost of living in NH: around 110 percent of US average.

Paying for a New Hampshire mechatronics bachelor's

• Plymouth State in-state tuition: around $14,626/year. Four-year around $58,000. APB 3-year saves one year of tuition.
• NH Granite State Scholarship: state need-based aid for NH residents.
• Federal Pell Grants: up to $7,395/year.
• 2+2 transfer from Lakes Region CC: AAS at LRCC ($13K total) + 2 years at Plymouth State = around $42K total for the full BS sequence.

How we ranked NH mechatronics programs

7-factor methodology: accreditation (25%), leadership (15%), pathways (15%), delivery (15%), employer signal (15%), cost (10%), reputation (5%). See full methodology. Both Plymouth State programs score well on program leadership (only standalone Robotics BS in NH, $1M federally funded lab). APB scores better on pathways (3-year acceleration). Traditional BS scores better on accreditation timing (first graduates earlier).

NH mechatronics bachelor's: frequently asked questions

Sources

• BLS OEWS for SOC 17-2141, 17-2199, 17-2071 in New Hampshire, May 2024 release.
• Plymouth State BS in Robotics.
• Plymouth State Robotics and Automation Engineering APB.
• Plymouth State 96-credit three-year applied bachelor's overview.
• NECHE institutional accreditation.