Best colleges for Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians in Iowa
Ranked by graduate earnings
Des Moines Area Community College, Kirkwood Community College and Western Iowa Tech Community College award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees and certificates in Iowa: 38, 38 and 17 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 6 Iowa colleges offer Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians and award 104 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 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny Public · Associate degree | $44,886 | 38 | 39% | — | $12,984 |
Colleges awarding the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees in Iowa
Top 6 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 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny Public | 38 | $44,886 |
| 2 | Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids Public | 38 | Not reported |
| 3 | Western Iowa Tech Community College Sioux City Public | 17 | Not reported |
| 4 | Northwest Iowa Community College Sheldon Public | 6 | Not reported |
| 5 | Southeastern Community College West Burlington Public | 3 | Not reported |
| 6 | Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar Public | 2 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Mechanical Drafters (SOC 17-3013).
Top skills
What Mechanical Drafters earn in Iowa
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs in Iowa.
Which Iowa colleges award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees?+
Des Moines Area Community College (38 graduates a year), Kirkwood Community College (38 graduates a year) and Western Iowa Tech Community College (17 graduates a year) award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees and certificates in Iowa, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 6 Iowa colleges offer Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians.
Which Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians program in Iowa has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Des Moines Area Community College tops the list at $44,886. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Mechanical Drafters earn in Iowa?+
The average annual wage for Mechanical Drafters in Iowa is $66,820 (median $63,330), across about 630 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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