Kentucky · Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians

Best colleges for Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians in Kentucky

Ranked by graduate earnings

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, Bluegrass Community and Technical College and Murray State University award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees and certificates in Kentucky: 89, 85 and 24 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 8 Kentucky colleges offer Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians and award 262 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…

Institutions
8
offering CIP 15.13
States offered
49
with a program page
Degrees / yr
262
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$53,085
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
1
College Scorecard
Median net price
—
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
48%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Mechanical Drafters
$70,230
BLS OEWS May 2025

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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Murray State University
Murray Public · Bachelor's degree
$53,0852461%—$22,612

Colleges awarding the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees in Kentucky

Top 8 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.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
Elizabethtown Public
89Not reported
2Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Lexington Public
85Not reported
3Murray State University
Murray Public
24$53,085
4Hazard Community and Technical College
Hazard Public
22Not reported
5Ashland Community and Technical College
Ashland Public
21Not reported
6West Kentucky Community and Technical College
Paducah Public
19Not reported
7Jefferson Community and Technical College
Louisville Public
1Not reported
8Big Sandy Community and Technical College
Prestonsburg Public
1Not reported

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Mechanical Drafters (SOC 17-3013).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
-6.5%
Decline
Openings / yr (US)
~3,300
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$68,510
typically Associate's degree

Top skills

Critical ThinkingActive LearningActive ListeningMathematicsReading ComprehensionSpeaking

What Mechanical Drafters earn in Kentucky

Jobs in Kentucky
510
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$70,230
median $68,880
Best-paying metro
$74,350
Elizabethtown, KY

Related careers

Architectural and Civil Drafters
$62,850 avg · 870 jobs
Mechanical Drafters
$70,230 avg · 510 jobs
Electrical and Electronics Drafters
$74,790 avg · 80 jobs
Drafters, All Other
$59,580 avg · 50 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs in Kentucky.

Which Kentucky colleges award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees?+

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College (89 graduates a year), Bluegrass Community and Technical College (85 graduates a year) and Murray State University (24 graduates a year) award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees and certificates in Kentucky, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 8 Kentucky colleges offer Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians.

Which Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians program in Kentucky has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Murray State University tops the list at $53,085. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Mechanical Drafters earn in Kentucky?+

The average annual wage for Mechanical Drafters in Kentucky is $70,230 (median $68,880), across about 510 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).

Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians in other statesIndianaMissouriUtahOregonMichiganMinnesotaIdahoCalifornia

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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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