Best institutions to study CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician
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.
179 U.S. institutions graduated 3,206 CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 15.1302, a specialization of Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians (CIP 15.13), and leads most directly to the Mechanical Drafters occupation (BLS SOC 17-3013).
About CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician programs
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. Includes instruction in engineering graphics, two-dimensional and three-dimensional engineering design, solids modeling, engineering animation, computer-aided drafting (CAD), computer-aided design (CADD), and auto-CAD techniques.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician program prepares individuals to utilize advanced computer software and hardware for creating graphic representations and simulations that support engineering projects. This program is ideal for those interested in applying technical skills within the engineering field, focusing on drafting and design technologies.
Students will gain knowledge in engineering graphics, two-dimensional and three-dimensional design, and computer-aided drafting (CAD) techniques. Core skills include critical thinking, mathematics, and design principles, equipping graduates to effectively produce detailed design drawings and models.
Credentials awarded
What CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year1,915 graduates / yr · 107 institutions60%
- Associate's degree584 graduates / yr · 85 institutions18%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years363 graduates / yr · 55 institutions11%
- Award of less than 12 weeks184 graduates / yr · 9 institutions5.7%
- Bachelor's degree116 graduates / yr · 7 institutions3.6%
- Master's degree35 graduates / yr · 5 institutions1.1%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years6 graduates / yr · 3 institutions0.2%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.0%
Graduates over time
CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 4,842 |
| 2013 | 4,395 |
| 2014 | 2,559 |
| 2015 | 2,555 |
| 2016 | 2,325 |
| 2017 | 2,398 |
| 2018 | 2,330 |
| 2019 | 2,572 |
| 2020 | 2,531 |
| 2021 | 2,269 |
| 2022 | 2,179 |
| 2023 | 2,286 |
| 2024 | 2,475 |
| 2025 | 3,206 |
Top 50 institutions for CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miami Dade College Miami, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 547 | 46% | — | — |
| 2 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, INPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 151 | 40% | — | $41,467 |
| 3 | Valencia College Orlando, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 138 | 48% | — | $45,701 |
| 4 | Glendale Community College Glendale, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 71 | 16% | — | — |
| 5 | Front Range Community College Westminster, COPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 71 | 35% | — | $33,893 |
| 6 | Elgin Community College Elgin, ILPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 67 | 41% | — | — |
| 7 | Eastern Florida State College Melbourne, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 60 | 52% | — | — |
| 8 | Red Rocks Community College Lakewood, COPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 54 | 32% | — | — |
| 9 | Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years | 51 | 42% | — | $49,539 |
| 10 | Connecticut State Community College New Britain, CTPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 50 | 24% | — | — |
| 11 | Minnesota State College Southeast Winona, MNPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 50 | 47% | — | — |
| 12 | Del Mar College Corpus Christi, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 50 | 11% | — | — |
| 13 | Chattahoochee Technical College Marietta, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 45 | 38% | — | — |
| 14 | Hillsborough College Tampa, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 39 | 34% | — | — |
| 15 | The Fab School Rancho Cucamonga, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 39 | 95% | $37,485 | — |
| 16 | Trine University Angola, INPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 36 | 64% | $22,269 | $65,013 |
| 17 | Harford Community College Bel Air, MDPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 36 | 39% | — | — |
| 18 | Gwinnett Technical College Lawrenceville, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 34 | 32% | — | — |
| 19 | Triton College River Grove, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 34 | 29% | — | — |
| 20 | Ogden - Weber Technical College Ogden, UTPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 34 | 53% | — | — |
| 21 | Dixie Technical College Saint George, UTPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 34 | 77% | — | — |
| 22 | Davis Technical College Kaysville, UTPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 33 | 57% | — | — |
| 23 | Asheville - Buncombe Technical Community College Asheville, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 30 | 40% | — | — |
| 24 | Seminole State College of Florida Sanford, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 29 | 41% | — | — |
| 25 | Ridgewater College Willmar, MNPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years | 28 | 50% | — | — |
| 26 | Savannah College of Art and Design Savannah, GAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 27 | 69% | $44,902 | — |
| 27 | Joliet Junior College Joliet, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 27 | 21% | — | — |
| 28 | Georgia Northwestern Technical College Rome, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 26 | 43% | — | — |
| 29 | Alamance Community College Graham, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 26 | 39% | — | — |
| 30 | Lanier Technical College Gainesville, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 25 | 34% | — | — |
| 31 | Brigham Young University - Idaho Rexburg, IDPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 25 | 55% | $6,760 | — |
| 32 | Aims Community College Greeley, COPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of less than 12 weeksAssociate's | 24 | 40% | — | — |
| 33 | College of Lake County Grayslake, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 24 | 37% | — | — |
| 34 | Murray State University Murray, KYPublicBachelor's | 24 | 61% | — | $53,085 |
| 35 | Austin Community College District Austin, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 24 | 20% | — | $45,343 |
| 36 | Brightpoint Community College Chester, VAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 24 | 38% | — | — |
| 37 | Academy of Art University San Francisco, CAPrivate for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sAssociate's | 23 | 34% | $40,294 | $48,978 |
| 38 | Tyler Junior College Tyler, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 23 | 27% | — | — |
| 39 | Waubonsee Community College Sugar Grove, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 21 | 39% | — | — |
| 40 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 21 | 33% | — | — |
| 41 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk, VAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 21 | 32% | — | $41,114 |
| 42 | Oakton College Des Plaines, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of less than 12 weeks | 20 | 37% | — | — |
| 43 | Terra State Community College Fremont, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 20 | 39% | — | — |
| 44 | Tulsa Community College Tulsa, OKPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 20 | 28% | — | — |
| 45 | Suncoast Technical College Sarasota, FLPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 19 | 50% | — | — |
| 46 | Germanna Community College Locust Grove, VAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 19 | 46% | — | — |
| 47 | Athens Technical College Athens, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 19 | 51% | — | — |
| 48 | Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PAPublicAssociate's | 19 | 53% | — | $57,854 |
| 49 | Henry Ford College Dearborn, MIPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAssociate's | 18 | 17% | — | — |
| 50 | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi Delhi, NYPublicAssociate's | 18 | 45% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians field (CIP 15.13) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 37 states
Where CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician graduates come from. Each state links to all Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 17-3013, Mechanical Drafters, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers as Mechanical Drafters and other related positions. The job outlook indicates a decline of 6.5%, with approximately 3,300 annual openings. The median wage for these roles is $68,510, and an Associate's degree is typically required for entry.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 15.1302
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mechanical Draftersprimary SOC 17-3013 | $71,550 | -6.5% Decline | ~3,300 | Associate's degree |
Architectural and Civil Drafters SOC 17-3011 | $66,150 | +4.1% About as fast as average | ~10,000 | Associate's degree |
Electrical and Electronics Drafters SOC 17-3012 | $76,870 | -5.6% Decline | ~1,700 | Associate's degree |
Drafters, All Other SOC 17-3019 | $63,520 | -6.9% Decline | ~1,300 | Associate's degree |
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
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.
Tools and technology used
Other Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians specializations
The 7 other 6-digit CIP codes under Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians (CIP 15.13).
- Drafting and Design Technology/CIP 15.1301
Technician 4,212 graduates / yr217 institutions - Architectural Drafting and Architectural CAD/CIP 15.1303
CADD 1,734 graduates / yr106 institutions - Mechanical Drafting and Mechanical Drafting CAD/CIP 15.1306
CADD 911 graduates / yr101 institutions - Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CIP 15.1304
CADD 87 graduates / yr12 institutions - Electrical/CIP 15.1305
Electronics Drafting and Electrical/ Electronics CAD/ CADD 76 graduates / yr12 institutions - 3-D Modeling and Design Technology/CIP 15.1307
Technician 62 graduates / yr13 institutions - Drafting/CIP 15.1399
Design Engineering Technologies/ Technicians partial data57 graduates / yr8 institutions
See all Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs →
Common questions
What is CAD/CADD?+
CAD/CADD stands for Computer-Aided Design and Drafting, which involves using software to create detailed drawings and models.
What careers can I pursue with this program?+
You can work as a Mechanical Drafter, Architectural and Civil Drafter, or in other drafting roles.
What skills will I learn?+
You will learn critical thinking, mathematics, engineering design, and software skills for drafting.
What is the job outlook for CAD/CADD graduates?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 6.5%, with around 3,300 annual openings in the field.
What is the CIP code for CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician?+
CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician is CIP 15.1302 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians (CIP 15.13). NCES defines it as: 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. Includes instruction in engineering graphics, two-dimensional and three-dimensional engineering design, solids modeling, engineering animation, computer-aided drafting (CAD), computer-aided design (CADD), and auto-CAD techniques.
How many institutions offer CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician programs?+
179 U.S. institutions reported CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 37 states, awarding 3,206 credentials in the year. That is 31.0% of all Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduates.
How much do CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Mechanical Drafters occupation, which CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician most directly leads to, pays a median of $71,550 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians field report median earnings of $48,988 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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