Louisiana · Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians

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

Ranked by graduate earnings

River Parishes Community College, South Louisiana Community College and SOWELA Technical Community College award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees and certificates in Louisiana: 68, 46 and 44 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 10 Louisiana colleges offer Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians and award 267 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
10
offering CIP 15.13
States offered
49
with a program page
Degrees / yr
267
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$34,056
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
2
College Scorecard
Median net price
$20,818
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
37%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Mechanical Drafters
$86,680
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 2 institutions, 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
1South Louisiana Community College
Lafayette Public · Associate degree
$34,0564630%——
2ITI Technical College
Baton Rouge Private for-profit · Associate degree Small program
$39,2081059%$20,818$20,283

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

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)
1River Parishes Community College
Gonzales Public
68Not reported
2South Louisiana Community College
Lafayette Public
46$34,056
3SOWELA Technical Community College
Lake Charles Public
44Not reported
4Fletcher Technical Community College
Schriever Public
36Not reported
5Louisiana Delta Community College
Monroe Public
14Not reported
6ITI Technical College
Baton Rouge Private for-profit
10$39,208
7Northshore Technical Community College
Lacombe Public
8Not reported
8Central Louisiana Technical Community College
Alexandria Public
6Not reported
Show the other 2 Louisiana colleges offering Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Delgado Community CollegeNew OrleansPublic32
Bossier Parish Community CollegeBossier CityPublic3

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 Louisiana

Jobs in Louisiana
420
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$86,680
median $77,730
Best-paying metro
$84,980
New Orleans-Metairie, LA

Related careers

Drafters, All Other
$73,590 avg · 1,200 jobs
Architectural and Civil Drafters
$68,500 avg · 1,040 jobs
Mechanical Drafters
$86,680 avg · 420 jobs
Electrical and Electronics Drafters
$71,690 avg · 150 jobs

Common questions

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

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

River Parishes Community College (68 graduates a year), South Louisiana Community College (46 graduates a year) and SOWELA Technical Community College (44 graduates a year) award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees and certificates in Louisiana, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 10 Louisiana colleges offer Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians.

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, South Louisiana Community College tops the list at $34,056. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Mechanical Drafters earn in Louisiana?+

The average annual wage for Mechanical Drafters in Louisiana is $86,680 (median $77,730), across about 420 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 statesIndianaMissouriUtahOregonKentuckyMichiganMinnesotaIdaho

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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