North Carolina · Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians

Best colleges for Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians in North Carolina

Ranked by graduates a year

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, East Carolina University and Alamance Community College award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees and certificates in North Carolina: 30, 27 and 26 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 8 North Carolina colleges offer Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians and award 108 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
108
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
—
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
0
College Scorecard
Median net price
—
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
43%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Mechanical Drafters
$62,030
BLS OEWS May 2025

8 institutions offering Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians in North Carolina

Graduate earnings are not yet reported for these institutions; ordered by graduates a year.

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
1Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
Asheville Public
—3040%——
2East Carolina University
Greenville Public
—2763%——
3Alamance Community College
Graham Public
—2639%——
4Isothermal Community College
Spindale Public
—755%——
5Craven Community College
New Bern Public
—648%——
6Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
Salisbury Public
—635%——
7College of the Albemarle
Elizabeth City Public
—335%——
8Cleveland Community College
Shelby Public
—332%——

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

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)
1Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
Asheville Public
30Not reported
2East Carolina University
Greenville Public
27Not reported
3Alamance Community College
Graham Public
26Not reported
4Isothermal Community College
Spindale Public
7Not reported
5Craven Community College
New Bern Public
6Not reported
6Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
Salisbury Public
6Not reported
7College of the Albemarle
Elizabeth City Public
3Not reported
8Cleveland Community College
Shelby Public
3Not 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 North Carolina

Jobs in North Carolina
1,350
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$62,030
median $59,050
Best-paying metro
$70,710
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

Related careers

Architectural and Civil Drafters
$66,430 avg · 2,680 jobs
Mechanical Drafters
$62,030 avg · 1,350 jobs
Electrical and Electronics Drafters
$78,800 avg · 430 jobs
Drafters, All Other
$61,100 avg · 320 jobs

Common questions

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

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

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (30 graduates a year), East Carolina University (27 graduates a year) and Alamance Community College (26 graduates a year) award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees and certificates in North Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 8 North Carolina colleges offer Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians.

How much do Mechanical Drafters earn in North Carolina?+

The average annual wage for Mechanical Drafters in North Carolina is $62,030 (median $59,050), across about 1,350 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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