Best colleges for Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians in Florida
Ranked by graduate earnings
Miami Dade College, Valencia College and Eastern Florida State College award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees and certificates in Florida: 547, 138 and 60 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 24 Florida colleges offer Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians and award 952 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 | Valencia College Orlando Public · Associate degree | $45,701 | 138 | 48% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees in Florida
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 | Miami Dade College Miami Public | 547 | Not reported |
| 2 | Valencia College Orlando Public | 138 | $45,701 |
| 3 | Eastern Florida State College Melbourne Public | 60 | Not reported |
| 4 | Hillsborough College Tampa Public | 39 | Not reported |
| 5 | Seminole State College of Florida Sanford Public | 29 | Not reported |
| 6 | Suncoast Technical College Sarasota Public | 19 | Not reported |
| 7 | Lorenzo Walker Technical College Naples Public | 14 | Not reported |
| 8 | Manatee Technical College Bradenton Public | 14 | Not reported |
| 9 | Atlantic Technical College Coconut Creek Public | 13 | Not reported |
| 10 | St Petersburg College St. Petersburg Public | 12 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 14 Florida colleges offering Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| William T McFatter Technical College | Davie | Public | 10 |
| Orange Technical College - South Campus | Orlando | Public | 9 |
| Indian River State College | Fort Pierce | Public | 8 |
| Florida State College at Jacksonville | Jacksonville | Public | 7 |
| Daytona State College | Daytona Beach | Public | 6 |
| Tallahassee State College | Tallahassee | Public | 6 |
| Palm Beach State College | Lake Worth | Public | 5 |
| Florida Panhandle Technical College | Chipley | Public | 4 |
| Erwin Technical College | Tampa | Public | 4 |
| State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota | Bradenton | Public | 2 |
| Ridge Technical College | Winter Haven | Public | 2 |
| Pinellas Technical College - St. Petersburg | Saint Petersburg | Public | 2 |
| Gulf Coast State College | Panama City | Public | 1 |
| Pasco-Hernando State College | New Port Richey | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Mechanical Drafters (SOC 17-3013).
Top skills
What Mechanical Drafters earn in Florida
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs in Florida.
Which Florida colleges award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees?+
Miami Dade College (547 graduates a year), Valencia College (138 graduates a year) and Eastern Florida State College (60 graduates a year) award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees and certificates in Florida, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 24 Florida colleges offer Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians.
Which Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians program in Florida has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Valencia College tops the list at $45,701. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Mechanical Drafters earn in Florida?+
The average annual wage for Mechanical Drafters in Florida is $70,180 (median $68,050), across about 1,540 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.
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