Robotics Engineering Courses: Top Colleges in the U.S.

Robotics engineering courses are among the best technical education programs you can invest in today. Whether you are applying for college for the first time, redirecting your career, or just beginning to explore robotics, these top universities should be on your radar. Our list of the top robotics engineering programs in the U.S. includes Ivy League schools as well as some programs you might not have considered before, including online education. 

Best Robotics Engineering Courses in the U.S.

Choosing the right degree program can make a huge difference in your education and career, especially in engineering. There are many great robotics engineering courses taught at universities all over the U.S. every year. However, different universities may have more specialized robotics degrees or unique robotics research programs that can help kick start your career. 

Here’s a look at the colleges and universities with the top robotics engineering courses in the United States. 

1. Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, PA)

Without a doubt, the best robotics engineering courses in the U.S. are taught at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. CMU has long been a leader in robotics and engineering education. In fact, it was the first university in the world to offer a PhD in robotics. 

CMU offers several levels of robotics engineering courses, ranging from a minor in robotics to a doctoral program in robotics. There are also three different master’s degrees to choose from including, a Master’s in Robotics, a Master’s in Robotic Systems Development, and a Master’s in Computer Vision. 

Outside of class, robotics students at CMU also have access to some of the best academic robotics research programs in the world. Robotics research ranges from industrial robotics to space and underwater robotics. 

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)

No list of the best universities for robotics engineering courses is complete without mentioning Massachusetts Institute of Technology. MIT gets its esteemed reputation for a good reason. It is one of the best engineering universities in the world and is stiff competition for CMU in robotics. 

A degree from MIT’s engineering department can be a great way to start off your career. However, it is worth noting that MIT does not offer a robotics-specific degree like CMU does, even on the graduate level. Despite this, MIT has a long history of innovative robotics research and has even competed in world-famous robotics competitions like DARPA. 

Majoring in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, biological engineering, or aeronautics and astronautics at MIT would all set you up well for a career in robotics. MIT offers some of the best robotics engineering courses and research opportunities in the world, so it is definitely worth applying to. 

3. Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Worcester, MA)

Worcester Polytechnic Institute may not be as well-known as MIT or Stanford, but it should be on your radar if you are interested in robotics. WPI is the first university in the world to offer a Bachelor’s degree in Robotics Engineering. This is the most specific set of robotics engineering courses offered at the undergraduate level in the United States. 

In addition to a specialized undergraduate degree in robotics engineering, WPI also offers several impressive research opportunities. Among WPI’s robotics research programs are Human-Robot Interaction, Medical Robotics, Soft Robotics, Autonomous Vehicles, and more. Plus, WPI offers Master’s and Doctoral degrees in robotics engineering, as well. 

4. California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, CA)

California Institute of Technology has one of the best mechanical engineering programs in the United States, particularly for students interested in automation. A big part of robotics engineering courses today is automation and autonomous systems, which are swiftly becoming more intelligent thanks to AI. 

Caltech is a fantastic university to study this niche at. In fact, in 2017, Caltech opened its Autonomous Systems Research Center, an entire facility devoted to autonomous robotics development. Caltech offers a rigorous Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering as well as graduate degrees and degrees in other niches of engineering. The campus’s location in Pasadena, California also puts it within a stone’s throw of NASA’s esteemed Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 

5. Stanford University (Stanford, CA)

Stanford University’s robotics research programs are among the most exciting in the world today. While Stanford does not offer a specific Robotics Engineering major, it does have a graduate program in Robotics and Autonomous Systems as well as a prestigious Mechanical Engineering undergraduate program. 

Stanford Robotics Lab, a research program students can get involved in, has made headlines in recent years. The Lab is developing an advanced underwater robot called OceanOne that is revolutionizing underwater exploration and humanlike robotics. Research opportunities like this make Stanford stand out among the top universities where you can pursue robotics engineering courses. 

6. University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)

The Mechanical Engineering undergraduate program at the University of California, Berkeley is a great place to begin your career in robotics engineering. Like several other universities on this list, UC Berkeley may not have a specific robotics engineering major. However, it is home to some of the robotics research programs in the country. 

UC Berkeley is a particularly good school for those who are interested in humanlike robotics and bioengineering. The mechanical engineering department at UC Berkeley has multiple research programs developing technologies like robotic exoskeletons and robotic limbs. UC Berkeley researchers also participate in leading robotics competitions like DARPA. 

7. University of Washington (Seattle, WA)

The University of Washington may not be an Ivy League school, but anyone interested in taking robotics engineering courses should consider applying. UW’s mechanical engineering is ranked #1 in the Pacific Northwest region of the US. UW offers Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees in Mechanical Engineering as well as several other disciplines. It is a particularly good school for female students, with twice the national average of women in its undergraduate mechanical engineering program. 

One of UW’s primary areas of research in the mechanical engineering department is robotics and autonomous systems. There are several research programs focused specifically on the robotics engineering niche. The university’s Husky Robotics team also participates in Lunar and Mars rover design competitions. So, it’s a great choice for students interested in space exploration. 

Online Robotics Engineering Courses

Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree is the best way to start a career in robotics engineering due to the complexity of the subject matter. However, some people who are interested in robotics engineering courses may not be looking to start a new career. Instead, you may just want to add technical skills to an existing career. Similarly, you may be pursuing a program at a technical or trade school and want to add some robotics knowledge to your skillset. 

A robotics technician is a perfect example of this type of career – someone who doesn’t need a college degree for their job but does need technical training. Jobs like this are becoming increasingly common and in-demand due to Industry 4.0. If you are interested in this type of job, standalone online robotics engineering courses or degree programs can be a good choice. 

There are a wide variety of great online robotics courses available today, some of which are even free. These courses are also a great way to begin exploring robotics if you aren’t sure if it is the right career niche for you or not. Topics that provide a good place to start include CAD, Python and C++ coding languages, Arduino and microcontrollers, and robotics design. 

Boosting Your Career With Robotics Engineering Courses

Studying robotics engineering is a fantastic way to boost your career and your skills today. Whether you are pursuing robotics at the university level or as an expansion of your technical skills, it is a fun and rewarding field to dive into. 

These universities are the best schools in the U.S. to study robotics at today. Keep in mind, though, that the perfect school for you depends largely on the type of research you want to be part of and the specific kind of robots you are excited about working with. With passion and dedication, you can start a great career in robotics engineering at any college or university!