Best institutions to study Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
Compare 477 U.S. colleges offering Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 49 states.
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs report a median of $45,684 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 15.13 and the Mechanical Drafters occupation (BLS SOC).
About Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs
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 interested in combining creativity with technical knowledge to support engineering efforts in fields such as mechanical, civil, and electrical design.
Learn more about Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians →
Students will develop core skills in critical thinking, mathematics, and design while gaining knowledge in engineering technology and computer-aided design (CAD). Coursework typically includes producing 3-D models, reviewing specifications, and modifying designs to enhance functionality and efficiency.
Top 41 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trine University Angola, IN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $65,013 | 36 | 64% | $22,269 | $27,000 |
| 2 | Trine University - Regional/Non - Traditional Campuses Angola, IN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $65,013 | 1 | 0% | $21,976 | $27,000 |
| 3 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $63,862 | 14 | 59% | — | $28,500 |
| 4 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg, MO Public · Bachelor's degree | $60,774 | 17 | 54% | — | $21,861 |
| 5 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $60,153 | 5 | 58% | — | $31,000 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $57,854 | 37 | 53% | — | $27,000 |
| 7 | Utah Valley University Orem, UT Public · Associate degree | $55,893 | 83 | 45% | — | — |
| 8 | Dunwoody College of Technology Minneapolis, MN Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $55,512 | 23 | 66% | $25,132 | $20,625 |
| 9 | Portland Community College Portland, OR Public · Associate degree | $54,198 | 84 | 18% | — | — |
| 10 | Northcentral Technical College Wausau, WI Public · Associate degree | $53,105 | 16 | 45% | — | $8,000 |
| 11 | Murray State University Murray, KY Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,085 | 24 | 61% | — | $22,612 |
| 12 | Grand Rapids Community College Grand Rapids, MI Public · Associate degree | $49,865 | 40 | 21% | — | $11,748 |
| 13 | State Technical College of Missouri Linn, MO Public · Associate degree | $49,789 | 38 | 84% | — | $11,350 |
| 14 | Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MN Public · Associate degree | $49,539 | 69 | 42% | — | $20,250 |
| 15 | College of Western Idaho Nampa, ID Public · Certificate degree | $48,988 | 17 | 31% | — | $14,770 |
| 16 | Academy of Art University San Francisco, CA Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,978 | 186 | 34% | $40,294 | $45,000 |
| 17 | Wichita State University - Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology Wichita, KS Public · Associate degree | $46,949 | 35 | 43% | — | $15,252 |
| 18 | Waukesha County Technical College Pewaukee, WI Public · Associate degree | $46,460 | 22 | 44% | — | $14,500 |
| 19 | Oakland Community College Auburn Hills, MI Public · Associate degree | $45,844 | 40 | 21% | — | $13,750 |
| 20 | Valencia College Orlando, FL Public · Associate degree | $45,701 | 138 | 48% | — | — |
| 21 | YTI Career Institute - York York, PA Private for-profit · Associate degree | $45,684 | 13 | 45% | $17,792 | — |
| 22 | St Cloud Technical and Community College Saint Cloud, MN Public · Associate degree | $45,565 | 20 | 45% | — | $11,500 |
| 23 | Houston City College Houston, TX Public · Associate degree | $45,548 | 80 | 17% | — | $12,040 |
| 24 | Austin Community College District Austin, TX Public · Certificate degree | $45,343 | 109 | 20% | — | $10,500 |
| 25 | Southern Maine Community College South Portland, ME Public · Associate degree | $45,319 | 16 | 28% | — | $13,000 |
| 26 | Minnesota State Community and Technical College Fergus Falls, MN Public · Associate degree | $44,988 | 16 | 47% | — | $12,513 |
| 27 | Mott Community College Flint, MI Public · Associate degree | $44,903 | 9 | 32% | — | — |
| 28 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA Public · Associate degree | $44,886 | 38 | 39% | — | $12,984 |
| 29 | Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WI Public · Associate degree | $44,782 | 30 | 65% | — | — |
| 30 | Macomb Community College Warren, MI Public · Associate degree | $44,701 | 43 | 18% | — | $8,296 |
| 31 | Texas State Technical College Waco, TX Public · Associate degree | $43,742 | 61 | 46% | — | $13,500 |
| 32 | Southeast Community College Area Lincoln, NE Public · Associate degree | $41,599 | 21 | 38% | — | $16,437 |
| 33 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN Public · Associate degree | $41,467 | 360 | 40% | — | $12,151 |
| 34 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk, VA Public · Associate degree | $41,114 | 21 | 32% | — | — |
| 35 | Porter & Chester Institute Bridgeport, CT Private for-profit · Certificate degree | $40,650 | 11 | 45% | $18,216 | $13,910 |
| 36 | ITI Technical College Baton Rouge, LA Private for-profit · Associate degree | $39,208 | 10 | 59% | $20,818 | $20,283 |
| 37 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,798 | 2 | 54% | — | $27,000 |
| 38 | Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Lancaster, PA Public · Associate degree | $36,002 | 16 | 71% | — | $12,000 |
| 39 | Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Perkinston, MS Public · Associate degree | $35,706 | 59 | 48% | — | $10,625 |
| 40 | South Louisiana Community College Lafayette, LA Public · Associate degree | $34,056 | 46 | 30% | — | — |
| 41 | Front Range Community College Westminster, CO Public · Certificate degree | $33,893 | 93 | 35% | — | $10,750 |
Offered across 49 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 17-3013, Mechanical Drafters, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers as engineering technicians, with a median wage of $68,510. The job outlook indicates a decline of 6.5%, with approximately 3,300 annual openings. An associate's degree is typically required for entry into this field.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 15.13.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 15.13 (Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians) maps to 4 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 17-3011 | Architectural and Civil Drafters |
| 17-3012 | Electrical and Electronics Drafters |
| 17-3013 | Mechanical Draftersprimary |
| 17-3019 | Drafters, All Other |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Develop detailed design drawings and specifications for mechanical equipment, dies, tools, and controls, using computer-assisted drafting (CAD) equipment.
- Produce three-dimensional models, using computer-aided design (CAD) software.
- Lay out and draw schematic, orthographic, or angle views to depict functional relationships of components, assemblies, systems, and machines.
- Modify and revise designs to correct operating deficiencies or to reduce production problems.
- Review and analyze specifications, sketches, drawings, ideas, and related data to assess factors affecting component designs and the procedures and instructions to be followed.
- Check dimensions of materials to be used and assign numbers to the materials.
Concentrations within Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, GeneralCIP 15.1301
A program that prepares individuals to generally apply technical skills to create working drawings and computer simulations for a variety of applications
- CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/TechnicianCIP 15.1302
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical skills and advanced computer software and hardware to the creation of graphic representations and simulations in support of engineering projects
- Architectural Drafting and Architectural CAD/CADDCIP 15.1303
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to develop working drawings and electronic simulations for architectural and related construction projects
- Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CADDCIP 15.1304
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to develop working drawing and electronic simulations in support of civil engineers, geological engineers, and related profe
- Electrical/Electronics Drafting and Electrical/Electronics CAD/CADDCIP 15.1305
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to develop working schematics and representations in support of electrical/electronic engineers, computer engineers, and rel
- Mechanical Drafting and Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADDCIP 15.1306
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to develop working drawings and electronic simulations in support of mechanical and industrial engineers, and related profes
- 3-D Modeling and Design Technology/TechnicianCIP 15.1307
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills in the use of three-dimensional (3-D) computer technology to create technical illustrations and models used in manufacturing
- Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians, OtherCIP 15.1399
Any instructional program in drafting/design engineering technologies not listed above.
Common questions
What is the focus of the Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies program?+
The program focuses on developing skills in creating detailed design drawings and specifications for various engineering applications.
What skills will I learn in this program?+
Students will learn critical thinking, mathematics, design principles, and how to use computer-aided design (CAD) software.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 6.5%, with about 3,300 annual openings in the field.
What level of education is typically required?+
An associate's degree is typically required for entry-level positions in this field.
How much do Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduates earn?+
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduates report median earnings of $45,684 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Mechanical Drafters occupation pays about $75,060 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians?+
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians maps to CIP 15.13 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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