Illinois Institute of Technology

How this program compares

Budget-wise, $53.4K puts this master's program at the 72nd percentile on cost — about 25% above the $42.9K average across 394 comparable listings. It runs on a full-time schedule (on-campus).

Admission Snapshot

Typical admitted student: Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, mathematics, or a related field with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Prerequisites include programming, data structures, linear algebra, and calculus; GRE is optional.

About This Program

A research-oriented degree focusing on the internal algorithms and physical systems used in self-driving cars, drones, and industrial robots for real-time operations. Coursework concentrates on Robotics & Autonomous Systems and Tech. Most students complete it in about 2 years.

Graduates frequently move into roles such as Robotics Engineer, with reported salaries around $110,000.

Design and control algorithms for robotic systems and autonomous vehicles.

At roughly $53.4K total, Illinois Institute of Technology's M.S. in Autonomous Systems and Robotics sits above the $42.9K average among AI master's programs we track — the 72nd percentile on price. Applicants should weigh that premium against the program's outcomes and brand.

It is one of 35 AI-related programs we track in Illinois, of which about 34% offer an online option. On price, it comes in cheaper than about 51% of the Illinois programs in our data, where typical tuition runs near $71.7K.

Career Outcomes

Graduates of Illinois Institute of Technology's M.S. in Autonomous Systems and Robotics most often target Robotics Engineer roles, where reported compensation runs around $110,000. Its focus on Robotics & Autonomous Systems and Tech maps directly to how employers in autonomous vehicles screen for specialized skills rather than generic degrees. Federal projections for this occupational area point to roughly 15% growth this decade — verify the current figure on the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook before you rely on it.

• 1. Robotics Software Engineer
• 2. Autonomous Systems Engineer
• 3. AI Robotics Researcher
• 4. Drone Systems Developer

What You'll Learn

• Design and control algorithms for robotic systems and autonomous vehicles
• Implement machine learning models for perception and decision-making in dynamic environments
• Develop sensor fusion techniques for real-time navigation and obstacle avoidance
• Integrate AI-driven autonomy in multi-agent robotic systems

Curriculum Highlights

Requires 32 credit hours, including core engineering analysis and control systems courses, supplemented by electives in machine learning and computer vision.

Top Employers

Top employers include Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Boston Dynamics, and NASA.

Admissions

Admission to Illinois Institute of Technology's M.S. in Autonomous Systems and Robotics generally expects a bachelor's degree. The GRE is optional here — a growing norm among AI programs — so applicants can often lead with coursework, projects and recommendations instead. Deadlines, testing policies and funding change year to year, so confirm the current requirements on the official program page before applying.

Application Materials

• Statement of Purpose: Required
• Letters of Recommendation: 2–3
• Resume: Required
• Transcripts: Official transcripts required

Frequently Asked Questions