Michigan · Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians

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

Ranked by graduate earnings

College for Creative Studies, Central Michigan University and Mott Community College award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees and certificates in Michigan: 74, 14 and 9 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 25 Michigan colleges offer Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians and award 317 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
25
offering CIP 15.13
States offered
49
with a program page
Degrees / yr
317
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$45,844
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
6
College Scorecard
Median net price
$32,153
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
36%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Mechanical Drafters
$75,920
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 6 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
1Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$63,8621459%—$28,500
2Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$60,153558%—$31,000
3Grand Rapids Community College
Grand Rapids Public · Associate degree
$49,8654021%—$11,748
4Oakland Community College
Auburn Hills Public · Associate degree
$45,8444021%—$13,750
5Mott Community College
Flint Public · Associate degree Small program
$44,903932%——
6Macomb Community College
Warren Public · Associate degree
$44,7014318%—$8,296

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

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.

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)
1College for Creative Studies
Detroit Private not-for-profit
74Not reported
2Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant Public
14$63,862
3Mott Community College
Flint Public
9$44,903
4St Clair County Community College
Port Huron Public
6Not reported
5Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo Public
5$60,153
6Glen Oaks Community College
Centreville Public
4Not reported
7Gogebic Community College
Ironwood Public
3Not reported
8Northern Michigan University
Marquette Public
3Not reported
9Alpena Community College
Alpena Public
2Not reported
10Monroe County Community College
Monroe Public
2Not reported
Show the other 15 Michigan colleges offering Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Macomb Community CollegeWarrenPublic43
Grand Rapids Community CollegeGrand RapidsPublic40
Oakland Community CollegeAuburn HillsPublic40
Henry Ford CollegeDearbornPublic18
Schoolcraft Community College DistrictLivoniaPublic15
Mid Michigan CollegeHarrisonPublic10
Kalamazoo Valley Community CollegeKalamazooPublic9
Muskegon Community CollegeMuskegonPublic8
Delta CollegeUniversity CenterPublic3
Lansing Community CollegeLansingPublic3
North Central Michigan CollegePetoskeyPublic2
Eastern Michigan UniversityYpsilantiPublic1
Lawrence Technological UniversitySouthfieldPrivate not-for-profit1
Siena Heights UniversityAdrianPrivate not-for-profit1
Wayne County Community College DistrictDetroitPublic1

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 Michigan

Jobs in Michigan
2,030
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$75,920
median $72,280
Best-paying metro
$79,190
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI

Related careers

Architectural and Civil Drafters
$62,210 avg · 2,100 jobs
Mechanical Drafters
$75,920 avg · 2,030 jobs
Electrical and Electronics Drafters
$75,980 avg · 380 jobs
Drafters, All Other
$75,180 avg · 360 jobs

Common questions

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

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

College for Creative Studies (74 graduates a year), Central Michigan University (14 graduates a year) and Mott Community College (9 graduates a year) award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees and certificates in Michigan, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 25 Michigan colleges offer Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians.

How much do Mechanical Drafters earn in Michigan?+

The average annual wage for Mechanical Drafters in Michigan is $75,920 (median $72,280), across about 2,030 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 statesIndianaMissouriUtahOregonKentuckyMinnesotaIdahoCalifornia

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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