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

The best mechatronics bachelor's programs in Texas, ranked

Texas has two mechatronics-titled BS programs in our verified directory. Texas A&M's BS in Multidisciplinary Engineering Technology with Mechatronics Track is the established ABET-ETAC accredited option at College Station. Stephen F. Austin State University's new BS in Mechatronics Engineering Technology launched Fall 2025 at Nacogdoches. Other TX schools (UT Austin, Texas Tech, UTEP, UTSA, UH) offer ME and EE BS programs with mechatronics electives but not mechatronics-titled degrees.

Why Texas is one of the top states for a mechatronics engineering career

Texas has the second-largest manufacturing workforce in the US after California (around 920,000+ manufacturing jobs) plus the largest semiconductor employer base in the country. Samsung Austin Semiconductor, Texas Instruments Dallas, Globalfoundries, NXP Austin, plus dozens of semiconductor equipment and supplier operations make Texas the densest US semiconductor cluster outside Arizona. Add the historic oil-and-gas engineering base (ExxonMobil, Shell, ConocoPhillips Houston), the aerospace cluster (Lockheed Martin Fort Worth, Bell Helicopter, Boeing Defense, NASA Johnson Space Center), and the growing EV manufacturing investment (Tesla Austin, GM Arlington), and Texas easily has the broadest engineering employer mix of any US state.

For mechatronics engineers specifically, every one of those industries hires integrated mechanical-electrical-controls engineers. Semiconductor equipment is mechatronics-heavy. Aerospace mechatronics work at Lockheed Fort Worth (F-35 production) is among the most-recognized in the world. Tesla Austin's assembly automation is the densest in North America. The TAMU MXET program with mechatronics track feeds directly into this employer base.

Texas A&M's BS MXET with Mechatronics Track

Texas A&M's College of Engineering is the largest engineering school in the United States by enrollment, with over 20,000 engineering students across all programs and locations. The BS in Multidisciplinary Engineering Technology (MXET) sits inside the Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution (ETID) department.

The MXET program is structured with three available tracks: Mechatronics, Manufacturing, and Plastics Engineering Technology. The Mechatronics Track covers integrated mechanical, electronic, robotics, automation, communication, control, and embedded-computing systems. The track is designed for students who want hands-on applied engineering technology work rather than the more theoretical pure-engineering ABET-EAC path that TAMU's Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering programs offer separately.

What makes the TAMU pipeline particularly strong: alumni network depth. Texas A&M graduates dominate engineering hiring at most major Texas employers. The Aggie engineering alumni network at ExxonMobil, Shell, Lockheed Martin Fort Worth, Bell, Boeing, Toyota Manufacturing Texas, Samsung Austin, and dozens of TX engineering employers is unmatched by any other Texas school.

Top Texas employers hiring mechatronics engineers

Samsung Austin Semiconductor + Taylor

Samsung's Austin semiconductor fab plus the under-construction Taylor, TX fab ($17B+ investment, expected operational 2026+). Largest semiconductor employer in Texas. Mechatronics engineering positions across photolithography, etch, deposition, and equipment maintenance. Highest engineering wages in TX.

Texas Instruments (Dallas headquarters)

TI is headquartered in Dallas with major semiconductor manufacturing across the metro and broader TX. Analog and embedded chip design plus manufacturing. Strong mechatronics engineering presence across fab equipment and process automation.

Tesla Austin Gigafactory

Tesla's largest US auto manufacturing facility. Builds Model Y, Cybertruck, and the next-generation vehicle platform. Plus battery cell manufacturing co-located. Heavily automated three-shift operation with strong mechatronics engineering hiring across robotics, controls, and battery automation.

Lockheed Martin Fort Worth (Aeronautics)

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter production. Approximately 18,000 employees. One of the largest single defense engineering operations in the US. Heavy mechatronics work across aircraft production automation, weapon systems, and test equipment. Strong engineering hiring with security clearance requirements.

Bell Helicopter / Bell Textron (Fort Worth)

Bell's commercial and military helicopter production. V-22 Osprey, Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA). Specialized aerospace mechatronics work.

NASA Johnson Space Center (Houston)

NASA's primary human spaceflight center. Engineering positions across spacecraft systems, robotics, life support, and mission operations. Federal employment with security clearance requirements.

ExxonMobil, Shell, ConocoPhillips (Houston)

Oil-and-gas headquarters cluster. Engineering positions across upstream and midstream automation, refinery process control. Mechatronics work in instrumentation and controls is foundational to refinery operations.

Toyota Manufacturing Texas (San Antonio)

Toyota's San Antonio truck plant. Tundra and Sequoia production. Heavily automated assembly with strong mechatronics engineering across body shop, paint, and final assembly.

Growing EV-and-battery base

Tesla Austin plus Lion Electric (school buses, San Antonio), Canoo, and other EV manufacturers. Plus battery cell manufacturing investments through the end of the decade.

Mechatronics engineer salary in Texas

• Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141) in TX: median around $98,000 to $110,000.
• Engineers, All Other (SOC 17-2199, includes mechatronics engineers) in TX: median around $103,000 to $115,000.
• Electrical Engineers (SOC 17-2071) in TX: median around $107,000 to $120,000.
• Entry-level BS graduate wages: $72,000 to $88,000 typical. Samsung Austin, Lockheed Fort Worth, and Tesla Austin pay at the upper end.
• Cost of living varies by metro: Houston and San Antonio run around 95 percent of US average, Dallas around 100 percent, Austin around 110 percent. Smaller TX cities run 85-90 percent of US average.

Paying for Texas A&M's mechatronics bachelor's

• TAMU in-state tuition: around $13,400 per year. Out-of-state about $40,000.
• TEXAS Grant: need-based state aid for TX residents at TX public universities, up to about $5,500 per year for eligible students.
• Toward EXcellence, Access, and Success (TEXAS) Grant: covers tuition and fees for income-eligible TX residents.
• TAMU institutional aid: merit-based scholarships available reducing sticker price for strong applicants.
• Federal Pell Grants: up to $7,395 per year for eligible students.
• Texas Industry Partnership Scholarship for students in engineering technology programs from industry-partnership companies.

Best Texas cities for mechatronics careers

College Station / Bryan-College Station

Home to Texas A&M University. Smaller city with limited local mechatronics employer base, but most TAMU graduates relocate to TX metro areas for first jobs. TAMU's engineering presence creates startup-and-research opportunities locally.

Austin

Samsung Austin Semiconductor, Tesla Austin Gigafactory, plus growing tech and semiconductor employer base. Highest mechatronics-engineering wages in TX. Higher cost of living than other TX metros.

Dallas / Fort Worth

TI Dallas, Lockheed Martin Fort Worth, Bell Textron, plus diversified manufacturing and tech base. Highest engineering job density in TX by metro.

Houston

Oil-and-gas headquarters cluster, NASA Johnson Space Center, plus growing biotech and medical device manufacturing. Lower cost of living than Austin.

San Antonio

Toyota Manufacturing Texas, plus growing tech and military-adjacent employer base. Strong cost-of-living value.

Taylor, TX

Samsung's under-construction $17B+ semiconductor fab. New mechatronics-engineering hiring wave expected through 2030.

How we ranked Texas 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. Texas A&M scores well on reputation (tier-1 engineering school) and employer signal (deep TX alumni network). Accreditation (ETAC) and cost (public tuition) round out the score.

Texas mechatronics bachelor's: frequently asked questions

Sources

• BLS OEWS for SOC 17-2141, 17-2199, 17-2071 in Texas, May 2024 release.
• Office of the Governor, Texas Economic Development: state manufacturing and semiconductor investment data.
• Texas A&M BS in Multidisciplinary Engineering Technology, Mechatronics Track program page.
• Texas A&M MXET ABET-ETAC accreditation page.
• ABET Accredited Program Search: TAMU MXET ETAC accreditation status.
• SACSCOC: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission institutional accreditation for Texas A&M.
• Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board: TEXAS Grant and other state aid programs.