The best mechatronics bachelor's program in North Carolina, ranked
The NC State / UNC Asheville joint engineering program is the only ABET-EAC accredited mechatronics-titled BS in North Carolina. It is structurally unusual but academically strong.
Asheville, NC
Joint BS in Engineering, Mechatronics Concentration (NC State / UNC Asheville)
University of North Carolina at Asheville
The Joint BS in Engineering, Mechatronics Concentration (JEM) is offered jointly by NC State and UNC Asheville — students spend all four years on the UNC Asheville campus, take engineering coursework taught by NC State faculty on-site, and graduate with degrees from both institutions. Engineering content comes from NC State's Departments of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering plus Electrical and Computer Engineering; liberal-arts and humanities content comes from UNC Asheville's strong humanities core. EAC-accredited since 2014, with public-tuition pricing under $7,500/year in-state — among the most affordable EAC mechatronics options in the country.
Tuition
$7,392/yr
Duration
48 mo
Format
On-campus
Accred.
ABET-EAC
Overall
78
of 100
Click any factor for details
Why North Carolina is one of the top states for a mechatronics engineering career
North Carolina runs the largest new manufacturing investment in state history through 2030. Toyota Battery NC at Liberty (between Raleigh and Greensboro) is a $13.9 billion EV battery manufacturing plant expected to employ 5,000+ by 2027. Honda Aero in Burlington produces the HF120 turbofan for HondaJets (the GE-Honda joint venture). Volvo Trucks New River Valley near Greensboro builds Class 8 trucks. Plus the Research Triangle's pharmaceutical manufacturing base (Pfizer, Merck, GSK, Biogen) needs continuous-process mechatronics engineers. Charlotte's aerospace and energy-equipment manufacturing add another major employer cluster.
For mechatronics engineers, NC has more new mechatronics-engineering hiring per capita than any other Southeast state through 2030. Toyota Battery alone will employ as many engineers as a small university's engineering school produces in a decade. Honda Aero and Research Triangle pharma add depth across automotive, aerospace, and pharma mechatronics work.
The NC State / UNCA joint engineering program: how it works
The Joint BS in Engineering with Mechatronics Concentration is structurally rare among US engineering programs. Most engineering degrees come from a single institution. The NC State / UNCA joint program puts NC State engineering coursework on the UNC Asheville campus in western NC.
Practical structure: students apply to UNC Asheville and indicate interest in the Joint Engineering Program. Once admitted to UNCA and the engineering program, all four years happen on the UNC Asheville campus in Asheville. Engineering coursework (calculus, physics, controls, mechatronics, capstone) is taught by NC State faculty stationed in Asheville. Humanities and social science coursework comes from UNC Asheville faculty. At graduation, students receive two diplomas: a BS in Engineering (Mechatronics Concentration) from NC State and a parallel degree from UNC Asheville.
What this structure provides: NC State's engineering accreditation and reputation (NC State engineering is consistently ranked top-50 nationally), combined with UNC Asheville's liberal-arts academic culture, on a single small mountain-town campus. For students who want engineering rigor but prefer smaller class sizes and broader humanities exposure than a traditional engineering university provides, this program is uniquely positioned.
The trade-off: the program is small. Class sizes per cohort are modest, employer recruiting is concentrated in NC (NC State alumni network drives placement), and program reputation is concentrated regionally rather than nationally.
Top North Carolina employers hiring mechatronics engineers
Toyota Battery NC (Liberty, NC)
Toyota's $13.9 billion EV battery manufacturing plant. Expected 5,000+ jobs by 2027. The largest new manufacturing project in NC history. Heavy mechatronics engineering across battery cell assembly automation, formation and conditioning systems, and quality automation.
Honda Aero (Burlington)
The GE-Honda joint venture aircraft engine manufacturing facility. Produces the HF120 turbofan plus components for GE Honda Aero engines. Specialized aerospace mechatronics work with precision manufacturing automation. Strong engineering hiring with security and ITAR requirements.
Volvo Trucks North America (Greensboro / Dublin VA)
Volvo Trucks New River Valley plant is technically in VA but the engineering operations span the NC-VA border. Class 8 truck assembly. Heavy automation across body-in-white welding and final assembly.
Research Triangle pharmaceutical manufacturing
Pfizer Sanford, Merck Wilson, GSK, Biogen, Lilly Concord, plus a deep biotech employer base across Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill. Continuous-process mechatronics engineering work with strong regulatory requirements.
LabCorp (Burlington)
Headquartered in Burlington with major lab-automation operations. High-throughput lab processing is mechatronics-engineering-intensive.
Caterpillar (Sanford, Clayton)
Caterpillar hydraulic excavators and other heavy equipment manufacturing. Hydraulics-heavy mechatronics work with ThinkBIG apprenticeship pipeline integration.
Charlotte-area aerospace and energy
Charlotte's growing aerospace base, plus Siemens Charlotte energy operations, Duke Energy headquarters. Engineering positions across power generation automation and aerospace tooling.
Tier-1 supplier base
Dozens of Tier-1 automotive and aerospace suppliers across NC feeding the major OEM employers and broader Southeast supply chain.
Mechatronics engineer salary in North Carolina
- Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141) in NC: median around $88,000 to $97,000.
- Engineers, All Other (SOC 17-2199, includes mechatronics engineers) in NC: median around $93,000 to $103,000.
- Electrical Engineers (SOC 17-2071) in NC: median around $97,000 to $107,000.
- Entry-level BS graduate wages: $68,000 to $82,000 typical. Research Triangle pharma and Toyota Battery NC pay at the upper end.
- Cost of living in Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte runs around 100 percent of US average. Asheville runs around 95-100 percent. Smaller NC cities run 85-92 percent of US average.
Paying for the NC State / UNCA joint program
- UNC Asheville in-state tuition: around $7,400 per year. Among the most affordable EAC-accredited mechatronics BS programs in the country.
- UNC system out-of-state tuition: around $25,000 per year.
- NC Need-Based Scholarship: need-based aid for NC residents at UNC system schools.
- Longleaf Commitment Grant: NC state grant covering tuition and fees for eligible community college students transferring to UNC system schools with family income under $80,000.
- Federal Pell Grants: up to $7,395 per year for eligible students.
Practical math for NC residents: UNCA tuition is among the most affordable EAC-engineering options in the country. Stacked with Pell and state aid, many NC residents pay zero tuition out of pocket. Out-of-state students get NC State engineering accreditation at UNCA pricing, which is materially below most out-of-state engineering schools.
Best North Carolina cities for mechatronics careers
Asheville
Home to UNC Asheville and the joint engineering program. Smaller local employer base, but most graduates relocate to Charlotte, Triangle, or Triad for first jobs. Cost of living below US average. Mountain-town setting is unique among engineering schools.
Liberty / Greensboro / Piedmont Triad
Toyota Battery NC at Liberty is the biggest new NC mechatronics employer. Honda Aero Burlington, Volvo Trucks New River Valley, LabCorp, plus the broader Piedmont Triad manufacturing corridor.
Research Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill)
Pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturing dominates. NC State main campus is in Raleigh (mechanical and electrical engineering BS programs available there). Higher engineering wages and higher cost of living than other NC metros.
Charlotte
Banking and finance dominate the city's economy, but Charlotte has growing aerospace, racing, and energy-equipment manufacturing. Siemens Charlotte energy operations are a major mechatronics employer.
Wilmington / Coastal NC
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (Wilmington), plus growing manufacturing. Smaller engineering employer base but high quality of life.
How we ranked North Carolina mechatronics programs
Every program scored on our 7-factor methodology: accreditation (25 percent), program leadership (15 percent), pathways and laddering (15 percent), delivery format (15 percent), employer signal (15 percent), cost and affordability (10 percent), reputation (5 percent). See the full methodology breakdown. The joint NC State / UNCA program scores well on accreditation (EAC), reputation (NC State engineering brand), and cost (public tuition).
North Carolina mechatronics bachelor's: frequently asked questions
Where can I study mechatronics engineering in North Carolina?
How does the NC State / UNC Asheville joint program work?
Is the NC State / UNCA joint program ABET-accredited?
What does a mechatronics engineer earn in North Carolina?
Are there other mechatronics-track BS programs in North Carolina?
Sources
- BLS OEWS for SOC 17-2141, 17-2199, 17-2071 in North Carolina, May 2024 release.
- Economic Development Partnership of NC: state manufacturing investment data including Toyota Battery NC.
- NC State / UNC Asheville Joint BS in Engineering, Mechatronics Concentration program page.
- UNC Asheville Mechatronics Engineering page.
- ABET Accredited Program Search: NC State engineering accreditation.
- SACSCOC: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission institutional accreditation for both NC State and UNC Asheville.
- NC Department of Commerce: state manufacturing workforce data.