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

TL;DR

Key takeaways

Washington has one dedicated mechatronics-titled BS program: Clover Park Technical College BAS in Mechatronics Engineering Technology and Automation (META), Lakewood (Tacoma metro).
First bachelor's degree in mechatronics offered anywhere in the Pacific Northwest. Designed for AAS-holder ladder-up; 21 months full-time after the AAS prerequisite.
Curriculum covers contemporary topics including Industrial IoT, Digital Twins, Sustainable Manufacturing, and Data Analytics on top of standard mechatronics fundamentals.
WA engineering wages run among the highest in the US ($120K-$130K median for SOC 17-2199) because of dense aerospace, tech, and semiconductor demand.
For students who want a traditional 4-year ABET-EAC mechatronics-track BS, the closest in-region options are University of Washington ME with Mechatronics Option or out-of-state programs at CSU Channel Islands and CSU Monterey Bay.

The best mechatronics bachelor's program in Washington, ranked

Clover Park's BAS-META is the only dedicated mechatronics-titled bachelor's degree in Washington state. The Bachelor of Applied Science format requires an AAS prerequisite, making it specifically a ladder-up option for community-college-trained technicians rather than a traditional 4-year freshman-entry BS.

Lakewood, WA

BAS in Mechatronics Engineering Technology and Automation

Clover Park Technical College

Clover Park Technical College's BAS in Mechatronics Engineering Technology and Automation (META) is the first bachelor's degree in mechatronics offered anywhere in the Pacific Northwest. The Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) format is designed specifically for AAS holders who want to ladder up to a bachelor's while continuing to work. 21 months full-time or 36-42 months part-time. Curriculum adds engineering math, physics, plus contemporary topics including Industrial IoT, Digital Twins, Sustainable Manufacturing, and Data Analytics. Lakewood, WA location near Joint Base Lewis-McChord and the Seattle-Tacoma manufacturing corridor.

Tuition

$8,500/yr

Duration

21 mo

Format

On-campus

Accred.

Regionally accredited (NWCCU)

Visit program page →

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Why Washington is one of the top mechatronics engineering markets

Washington has one of the highest-paying engineering job markets in the country, driven by three converging clusters. Boeing (Everett, Renton, Auburn, Seattle, plus the company's broader supplier base) employs about 66,000 in WA, making it the state's largest single employer. Microsoft Redmond, Amazon Seattle headquarters and AWS operations, plus the dense Puget Sound tech employer base create a massive software-and-tech engineering market. And the growing semiconductor and biotech base (Intel's Hillsboro fab just over the border in Oregon, Microchip, plus Bothell-area biotech) adds depth.

For mechatronics engineers specifically, Boeing aerospace manufacturing is the headline employer. 737, 777X, 787 final assembly, plus precision machining and composite layup work, all require mechatronics-engineering-intensive automation. Aerospace robotics is uniquely mechatronics-heavy. Plus growing battery manufacturing investment (Sila Nanotechnologies in Moses Lake, Group14 Technologies) creates additional mechatronics roles.

Clover Park's BAS-META: the first Pacific NW mechatronics BS

Clover Park Technical College launched the BAS in Mechatronics Engineering Technology and Automation as the first dedicated mechatronics bachelor's degree offered anywhere in the Pacific Northwest. The program is structured as a Bachelor of Applied Science, which means students enter with an AAS already completed in mechatronics, electronics, industrial maintenance, or a closely related technical field. The BAS adds engineering math, physics, and upper-division mechatronics coursework on top of the AAS foundation.

Practical structure:

Prerequisite: AAS in mechatronics, electronics, industrial maintenance, or related field (60+ credit hours).
Duration: 21 months full-time or 36 to 42 months part-time after the AAS.
Time commitment: approximately 45 hours per week for full-time students.
Admissions: Fall and Spring quarter enrollment.
Curriculum focus: mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer controls integration, plus contemporary topics: Industrial IoT, Digital Twins, Sustainable Manufacturing, Data Analytics.

The model is similar to other state-system applied-engineering BS programs in Washington (Washington has built out BAS programs across its community-college system). For working AAS-level mechatronics technicians who want to ladder up to a BS, this is the cleanest pathway in the Pacific Northwest.

Top Washington employers hiring mechatronics engineers

Boeing (Everett, Renton, Auburn, Seattle)

Boeing Commercial Airplanes is the largest single employer in Washington at about 66,000 employees. Everett (777, 767, 787), Renton (737), Auburn (parts and tooling), plus the broader WA aerospace supplier base. Heavy mechatronics work across aircraft manufacturing automation, robotics, and precision assembly. Clearance not required for most production engineering positions.

Microsoft Redmond

Microsoft's global headquarters plus extensive engineering operations in Redmond. Less mechatronics-specific than Boeing or biotech, but growing hardware engineering (Surface devices, HoloLens, gaming hardware) creates mechatronics-engineering positions. Plus AI/robotics R&D at Microsoft Research.

Amazon (Seattle headquarters + AWS)

Amazon Seattle headquarters plus the broader AWS Seattle operations. Robotics work at Amazon Robotics (Bay Area but recruits nationally). Warehouse automation, drone delivery, autonomous vehicle work (Zoox) all need mechatronics engineers.

Tesla Lathrop / SpaceX Seattle (cross-state)

SpaceX maintains Starlink satellite operations near Redmond. Tesla manufactures in CA but recruits WA engineering talent.

BlueOrigin (Kent + Cape Canaveral)

Jeff Bezos' rocket company. New Shepard and New Glenn rocket development with major Kent, WA manufacturing operations. Engineering positions across propulsion, avionics, and manufacturing automation.

BAE Systems Land + Armaments (Renton)

BAE Renton manufactures armored vehicles. Defense mechatronics work.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM)

Major Army-Air Force joint installation in Pierce County. Defense engineering work, plus Army equipment maintenance. JBLM is adjacent to Clover Park's Lakewood campus.

Growing battery manufacturing

Sila Nanotechnologies (Moses Lake, WA), Group14 Technologies (Woodinville), plus other emerging battery-and-EV manufacturing investments through the end of the decade.

Mechatronics engineer salary in Washington

Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141) in WA: median around $108,000 to $118,000.
Engineers, All Other (SOC 17-2199, includes mechatronics engineers) in WA: median around $120,000 to $130,000.
Electrical Engineers (SOC 17-2071) in WA: median around $128,000 to $140,000.
Entry-level BS graduate wages: $78,000 to $92,000 typical. Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon, and BlueOrigin pay at the upper end.
Cost of living in Seattle metro runs around 130 percent of US average. Tacoma runs around 110 percent. Outside the Puget Sound metro runs around 95-100 percent.

Paying for Clover Park's BAS-META

Clover Park BAS in-state tuition: around $8,500 per year. Community-college tuition pricing for a four-year degree.
Washington College Grant (WCG): need-based state aid for WA residents, covers tuition for income-eligible students.
Washington State Need Grant: additional state aid.
Federal Pell Grants: up to $7,395 per year for eligible students.
GI Bill / VA education benefits: Clover Park is heavily veteran-friendly given proximity to JBLM.

Best Washington cities for mechatronics careers

Lakewood / Tacoma

Home to Clover Park Technical College. Adjacent to JBLM. Strong defense engineering employment plus reasonable commute access to Seattle metro engineering jobs.

Seattle

Amazon headquarters, Microsoft Redmond (suburb), BlueOrigin Kent. Highest engineering wages and highest cost of living in WA.

Everett

Boeing Everett (777, 767, 787 final assembly). The largest aerospace manufacturing engineering employment in Washington.

Renton

Boeing Renton (737 production) plus BAE Systems Renton armored vehicle manufacturing.

Bellevue / Redmond

Microsoft headquarters, plus growing tech employer base. Higher cost of living than other WA metros.

Moses Lake / Eastern Washington

Sila Nanotechnologies (battery manufacturing), plus growing aerospace and tech supplier base in Eastern WA. Significantly lower cost of living than Puget Sound.

How we ranked Washington 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. Clover Park scores well on cost (community-college tuition for a four-year degree) and pathways (clean BAS ladder-up from AAS). Accreditation tier is regional (NWCCU institutional) rather than ABET.

Washington mechatronics bachelor's: frequently asked questions

Where can I study mechatronics in Washington state?

Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood, WA runs the first dedicated mechatronics bachelor's degree offered anywhere in the Pacific Northwest. The BAS in Mechatronics Engineering Technology and Automation (META) is a Bachelor of Applied Science designed for AAS holders who want to ladder up to a bachelor's while continuing to work. 21 months full-time or 36-42 months part-time.

Is Clover Park's BAS-META program ABET-accredited?

Clover Park Technical College is regionally accredited by NWCCU (Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities). The BAS-META is a relatively new bachelor's offering (first in the Pacific NW) and may not yet hold ABET accreditation; check directly with the program. For students who need ABET-EAC accreditation specifically, the closest options are CSU Channel Islands or CSU Monterey Bay in California.

What does a mechatronics engineer earn in Washington state?

BLS state OEWS data for SOC 17-2199 (Engineers, All Other) in Washington shows median wages around $120,000 to $130,000, among the highest in the country. SOC 17-2141 (Mechanical Engineers) in WA runs $108,000 to $118,000 median. Entry-level BS graduates start around $78,000 to $92,000 in WA manufacturing and aerospace. Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon, and growing semiconductor and biotech employers pay competitively.

Are there other mechatronics-track BS programs in Washington?

The University of Washington offers a Mechatronics option within its BS in Mechanical Engineering that's functionally similar to a mechatronics-titled BS. UW Tacoma runs a BS in Mechanical Engineering with applied focus. Washington State University runs a strong BS in Mechanical Engineering with mechatronics electives. Clover Park BAS-META is the only dedicated mechatronics-titled bachelor's in our verified directory for WA.

What is a BAS (Bachelor of Applied Science)?

A Bachelor of Applied Science is a bachelor's degree designed for students who have already completed an associate degree (AAS or AAT) in a related technical field. The BAS builds on the AAS coursework rather than starting from a freshman-year general-education foundation. Clover Park's BAS-META is specifically structured for students with AAS-level mechatronics or industrial maintenance training who want to ladder up to a four-year degree while continuing to work in their field.

Sources

BLS OEWS for SOC 17-2141, 17-2199, 17-2071 in Washington, May 2024 release.
Washington State Department of Commerce: state manufacturing employment and aerospace investment data.
Clover Park Technical College BAS in Mechatronics Engineering Technology and Automation program page.
NWCCU: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities institutional accreditation for Clover Park.
Washington Student Achievement Council: Washington College Grant and other state aid programs.