Best colleges for Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
Academy of Art University, Palomar College and Santa Ana College award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees and certificates in California: 186, 67 and 63 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 54 California colleges offer Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians and award 986 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians program equips students with the skills needed to create detailed design drawings and specifications for various engineering projects. This program is ideal for individuals…
Top institution, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Academy of Art University San Francisco Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,978 | 186 | 34% | $40,294 | $45,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Academy of Art University San Francisco Private for-profit | 186 | $48,978 |
| 2 | Palomar College San Marcos Public | 67 | Not reported |
| 3 | Santa Ana College Santa Ana Public | 63 | Not reported |
| 4 | Mt San Antonio College Walnut Public | 46 | Not reported |
| 5 | The Fab School Rancho Cucamonga Private for-profit | 39 | Not reported |
| 6 | Fullerton College Fullerton Public | 38 | Not reported |
| 7 | Pasadena City College Pasadena Public | 31 | Not reported |
| 8 | Citrus College Glendora Public | 28 | Not reported |
| 9 | Golden West College Huntington Beach Public | 22 | Not reported |
| 10 | Butte College Oroville Public | 21 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 44 California colleges offering Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Mechanical Drafters (SOC 17-3013).
Top skills
What Mechanical Drafters earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees?+
Academy of Art University (186 graduates a year), Palomar College (67 graduates a year) and Santa Ana College (63 graduates a year) award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees and certificates in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 54 California colleges offer Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians.
Which Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Academy of Art University tops the list at $48,978. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Mechanical Drafters earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Mechanical Drafters in California is $86,750 (median $82,510), across about 3,640 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians program?+
The Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians program equips students with the skills needed to create detailed design drawings and specifications for various engineering projects. This program is ideal for individuals…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active learning, active listening, mathematics, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Mechanical Drafters?+
The national job outlook is about -6.5% growth with around 3,300 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Associate's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card