Best colleges for Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians by graduate earnings are Trine University ($65,013), Pennsylvania College of Technology ($57,854) and Murray State University ($53,085), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Trine University (Angola, IN): $65,013, 36 graduates a year
- Pennsylvania College of Technology (Williamsport, PA): $57,854, 37 graduates a year
- Murray State University (Murray, KY): $53,085, 24 graduates a year
- Academy of Art University (San Francisco, CA): $48,978, 186 graduates a year
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 median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $45,684 (College Scorecard, 2019), 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 9 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. 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 | Trine University Angola, IN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $65,013 | 36 | 64% | $22,269 | $27,000 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $57,854 | 37 | 53% | — | $27,000 |
| 3 | Murray State University Murray, KY Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,085 | 24 | 61% | — | $22,612 |
| 4 | Academy of Art University San Francisco, CA Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,978 | 186 | 34% | $40,294 | $45,000 |
| 5 | Trine University - Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses Angola, IN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online Small program | $65,013 | 1 | 0% | $21,976 | $27,000 |
| 6 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $63,862 | 14 | 59% | — | $28,500 |
| 7 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg, MO Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $60,774 | 17 | 54% | — | $21,861 |
| 8 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $60,153 | 5 | 58% | — | $31,000 |
| 9 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $36,798 | 2 | 54% | — | $27,000 |
Top 25 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utah Valley University Orem, UT Public · Associate degree | $55,893 | 83 | 45% | — | — |
| 2 | Dunwoody College of Technology Minneapolis, MN Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $55,512 | 23 | 66% | $25,132 | $20,625 |
| 3 | State Technical College of Missouri Linn, MO Public · Associate degree | $49,789 | 38 | 84% | — | $11,350 |
| 4 | Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MN Public · Associate degree | $49,539 | 69 | 42% | — | $20,250 |
| 5 | Wichita State University - Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology Wichita, KS Public · Associate degree | $46,949 | 35 | 43% | — | $15,252 |
| 6 | Waukesha County Technical College Pewaukee, WI Public · Associate degree | $46,460 | 22 | 44% | — | $14,500 |
| 7 | Valencia College Orlando, FL Public · Associate degree | $45,701 | 138 | 48% | — | — |
| 8 | St Cloud Technical and Community College Saint Cloud, MN Public · Associate degree | $45,565 | 20 | 45% | — | $11,500 |
| 9 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA Public · Associate degree | $44,886 | 38 | 39% | — | $12,984 |
| 10 | Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WI Public · Associate degree | $44,782 | 30 | 65% | — | — |
| 11 | Texas State Technical College Waco, TX Public · Associate degree | $43,742 | 61 | 46% | — | $13,500 |
| 12 | Southeast Community College Area Lincoln, NE Public · Associate degree | $41,599 | 21 | 38% | — | $16,437 |
| 13 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN Public · Associate degree | $41,467 | 360 | 40% | — | $12,151 |
| 14 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk, VA Public · Associate degree | $41,114 | 21 | 32% | — | — |
| 15 | Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Perkinston, MS Public · Associate degree | $35,706 | 59 | 48% | — | $10,625 |
| 16 | South Louisiana Community College Lafayette, LA Public · Associate degree | $34,056 | 46 | 30% | — | — |
| 17 | Front Range Community College Westminster, CO Public · Certificate | $33,893 | 93 | 35% | — | $10,750 |
| 18 | Portland Community College Portland, OR Public · Associate degree | $54,198 | 84 | 18% | — | — |
| 19 | Northcentral Technical College Wausau, WI Public · Associate degree Small program | $53,105 | 16 | 45% | — | $8,000 |
| 20 | Grand Rapids Community College Grand Rapids, MI Public · Associate degree | $49,865 | 40 | 21% | — | $11,748 |
| 21 | College of Western Idaho Nampa, ID Public · Certificate Small program | $48,988 | 17 | 31% | — | $14,770 |
| 22 | Oakland Community College Auburn Hills, MI Public · Associate degree | $45,844 | 40 | 21% | — | $13,750 |
| 23 | YTI Career Institute - York York, PA Private for-profit · Associate degree Small program | $45,684 | 13 | 45% | $17,792 | — |
| 24 | Houston City College Houston, TX Public · Associate degree | $45,548 | 80 | 17% | — | $12,040 |
| 25 | Austin Community College District Austin, TX Public · Certificate | $45,343 | 109 | 20% | — | $10,500 |
Specializations within Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
8 of the 8 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 15.13 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Drafting and Design Technology/CIP 15.1301
Technician 4,212 graduates / yr217 institutions39 states - CAD/CIP 15.1302
CADD Drafting and/ or Design Technology/ Technician 3,206 graduates / yr179 institutions37 states - Architectural Drafting and Architectural CAD/CIP 15.1303
CADD 1,734 graduates / yr106 institutions32 states - Mechanical Drafting and Mechanical Drafting CAD/CIP 15.1306
CADD 911 graduates / yr101 institutions27 states - Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CIP 15.1304
CADD 87 graduates / yr12 institutions9 states - Electrical/CIP 15.1305
Electronics Drafting and Electrical/ Electronics CAD/ CADD 76 graduates / yr12 institutions8 states - 3-D Modeling and Design Technology/CIP 15.1307
Technician New in CIP 202062 graduates / yr13 institutions9 states - Drafting/CIP 15.1399
Design Engineering Technologies/ Technicians partial data57 graduates / yr8 institutions7 states
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.
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 one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $45,684, College Scorecard (2019); 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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card