Best colleges for Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduate earnings
Pennsylvania College of Technology, Drexel University and Penn Commercial Business/Technical School award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees and certificates in Pennsylvania: 37, 29 and 20 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 18 Pennsylvania colleges offer Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians and award 205 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 3 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 | Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport Public · Bachelor's degree | $57,854 | 37 | 53% | — | $27,000 |
| 2 | YTI Career Institute - York York Private for-profit · Associate degree Small program | $45,684 | 13 | 45% | $17,792 | — |
| 3 | Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Lancaster Public · Associate degree Small program | $36,002 | 16 | 71% | — | $12,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees in Pennsylvania
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 | Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport Public | 37 | $57,854 |
| 2 | Drexel University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 29 | Not reported |
| 3 | Penn Commercial Business/Technical School Washington Private for-profit | 20 | Not reported |
| 4 | Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Lancaster Public | 16 | $36,002 |
| 5 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit | 14 | Not reported |
| 6 | YTI Career Institute - York York Private for-profit | 13 | $45,684 |
| 7 | Temple University Philadelphia Public | 11 | Not reported |
| 8 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public | 7 | Not reported |
| 9 | Westmoreland County Community College Youngwood Public | 6 | Not reported |
| 10 | Lehigh Carbon Community College Schnecksville Public | 4 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 8 Pennsylvania colleges offering Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg Area Community College | Harrisburg | Public | 15 |
| Community College of Allegheny County | Pittsburgh | Public | 9 |
| Luzerne County Community College | Nanticoke | Public | 6 |
| Community College of Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Public | 6 |
| Northampton County Area Community College | Bethlehem | Public | 5 |
| Delaware County Community College | Media | Public | 3 |
| Johnson College | Scranton | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Somerset County Technology Center | Somerset | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Mechanical Drafters (SOC 17-3013).
Top skills
What Mechanical Drafters earn in Pennsylvania
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs in Pennsylvania.
Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees?+
Pennsylvania College of Technology (37 graduates a year), Drexel University (29 graduates a year) and Penn Commercial Business/Technical School (20 graduates a year) award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees and certificates in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 18 Pennsylvania colleges offer Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians.
Which Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Pennsylvania College of Technology tops the list at $57,854. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Mechanical Drafters earn in Pennsylvania?+
The average annual wage for Mechanical Drafters in Pennsylvania is $70,250 (median $63,480), across about 2,330 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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