Best colleges for Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians in Minnesota
Ranked by graduate earnings
Dunwoody College of Technology, Hennepin Technical College and St Cloud Technical and Community College are the top Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs in Minnesota by graduate earnings. Dunwoody College of Technology leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $55,512, College Scorecard. Hennepin Technical College, Minnesota State College Southeast and Anoka Technical College award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees and certificates in Minnesota: 69, 59 and 46 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 14 Minnesota colleges offer Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians and award 344 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 4 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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dunwoody College of Technology Minneapolis Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $55,512 | 23 | 66% | $25,132 | $20,625 |
| 2 | Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park Public · Associate degree | $49,539 | 69 | 42% | — | $20,250 |
| 3 | St Cloud Technical and Community College Saint Cloud Public · Associate degree | $45,565 | 20 | 45% | — | $11,500 |
| 4 | Minnesota State Community and Technical College Fergus Falls Public · Associate degree Small program | $44,988 | 16 | 47% | — | $12,513 |
Colleges awarding the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees in Minnesota
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 | Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park Public | 69 | $49,539 |
| 2 | Minnesota State College Southeast Winona Public | 59 | Not reported |
| 3 | Anoka Technical College Anoka Public | 46 | Not reported |
| 4 | Ridgewater College Willmar Public | 28 | Not reported |
| 5 | Dunwoody College of Technology Minneapolis Private not-for-profit | 23 | $55,512 |
| 6 | St Cloud Technical and Community College Saint Cloud Public | 20 | $45,565 |
| 7 | Northland Community and Technical College Thief River Falls Public | 17 | Not reported |
| 8 | Minnesota State Community and Technical College Fergus Falls Public | 16 | $44,988 |
| 9 | Dakota County Technical College Rosemount Public | 8 | Not reported |
| 10 | Alexandria Technical & Community College Alexandria Public | 7 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 4 Minnesota colleges offering Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis Community and Technical College | Minneapolis | Public | 37 |
| Century College | White Bear Lake | Public | 7 |
| Lake Superior College | Duluth | Public | 5 |
| Rochester Community and Technical College | Rochester | Public | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Mechanical Drafters (SOC 17-3013).
Top skills
What Mechanical Drafters earn in Minnesota
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs in Minnesota.
Which Minnesota colleges award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees?+
Hennepin Technical College (69 graduates a year), Minnesota State College Southeast (59 graduates a year) and Anoka Technical College (46 graduates a year) award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees and certificates in Minnesota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 14 Minnesota colleges offer Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians.
What is the best college for Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians in Minnesota?+
By graduate earnings, Dunwoody College of Technology leads among Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs in Minnesota, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $55,512, College Scorecard. Hennepin Technical College and St Cloud Technical and Community College follow. By degrees awarded, Hennepin Technical College is the largest, with 69 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians program in Minnesota has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Dunwoody College of Technology tops the list at $55,512. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Mechanical Drafters earn in Minnesota?+
The average annual wage for Mechanical Drafters in Minnesota is $73,850 (median $73,090), across about 1,220 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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