Best institutions to study Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CADD
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 professionals.
12 U.S. institutions graduated 87 Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CADD students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 15.1304, a specialization of Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians (CIP 15.13), and leads most directly to the Architectural and Civil Drafters occupation (BLS SOC 17-3011).
About Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CADD programs
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 professionals. Includes instruction in basic civil engineering principles, geological and seismographic mapping, machine drafting, computer-aided drafting (CAD), pipe drafting, survey interpretation, and blueprint reading.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CADD program prepares students to support civil engineers and related professionals by applying technical knowledge and skills in drafting and design. This program is ideal for individuals interested in creating detailed drawings and electronic simulations for various civil engineering projects, including highways and sewage systems.
Students will gain core skills in computer-aided drafting (CAD), blueprint reading, geological mapping, and machine drafting. Coursework emphasizes critical thinking, mathematics, and technical knowledge essential for producing accurate and effective engineering drawings.
Credentials awarded
What Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CADD graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years35 graduates / yr · 5 institutions40%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year33 graduates / yr · 8 institutions38%
- Associate's degree19 graduates / yr · 4 institutions22%
Graduates over time
Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CADD completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 161 |
| 2013 | 145 |
| 2014 | 137 |
| 2015 | 132 |
| 2016 | 125 |
| 2017 | 150 |
| 2018 | 132 |
| 2019 | 92 |
| 2020 | 105 |
| 2021 | 86 |
| 2022 | 104 |
| 2023 | 100 |
| 2024 | 108 |
| 2025 | 87 |
Top 12 institutions for Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CADD, 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 | Canadian Valley Technology Center El Reno, OKPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 23 | 71% | — | — |
| 2 | Austin Community College District Austin, TXPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 21 | 20% | — | $45,343 |
| 3 | Santa Ana College Santa Ana, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 10 | 31% | — | — |
| 4 | New Mexico State University - Dona Ana Las Cruces, NMPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 7 | 19% | — | — |
| 5 | Trident Technical College Charleston, SCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 30% | — | — |
| 6 | College of Lake County Grayslake, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 37% | — | — |
| 7 | Kaskaskia College Centralia, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 49% | — | — |
| 8 | Pima Community College Tucson, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 28% | — | — |
| 9 | Diablo Valley College Pleasant Hill, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 49% | — | — |
| 10 | Columbus State Community College Columbus, OHPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 3 | 28% | — | — |
| 11 | Stark State College North Canton, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 23% | — | — |
| 12 | Community College of Allegheny County Pittsburgh, PAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 1 | 24% | — | — |
* 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 9 states
Where Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CADD graduates come from. Each state links to all Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 1 | 23 | Canadian Valley Technology Center23 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 21 | Austin Community College District21 / yr |
| California | 2 | 13 | Santa Ana College10 / yr |
| Illinois | 2 | 9 | College of Lake County5 / yr |
| New Mexico | 1 | 7 | New Mexico State University - Dona Ana7 / yr |
| South Carolina | 1 | 6 | Trident Technical College6 / yr |
| Ohio | 2 | 4 | Columbus State Community College3 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 3 | Pima Community College3 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 1 | Community College of Allegheny County1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 17-3011, Architectural and Civil Drafters, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program often pursue careers as Architectural and Civil Drafters. The job outlook is favorable, with a projected growth rate of 4.1% and about 10,000 annual openings. The median wage for this occupation is $64,280, typically requiring an associate's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 15.1304
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Architectural and Civil Draftersprimary SOC 17-3011 | $66,150 | +4.1% About as fast as average | ~10,000 | 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 Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CADD 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
- Produce drawings, using computer-assisted drafting systems (CAD) or drafting machines, or by hand, using compasses, dividers, protractors, triangles, and other drafting devices.
- Draft plans and detailed drawings for structures, installations, and construction projects, such as highways, sewage disposal systems, and dikes, working from sketches or notes.
- Coordinate structural, electrical, and mechanical designs and determine a method of presentation to graphically represent building plans.
- Analyze building codes, by-laws, space and site requirements, and other technical documents and reports to determine their effect on architectural designs.
- Draw maps, diagrams, and profiles, using cross-sections and surveys, to represent elevations, topographical contours, subsurface formations, and structures.
- Lay out and plan interior room arrangements for commercial buildings, using computer-assisted drafting (CAD) equipment and software.
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 - CAD/CIP 15.1302
CADD Drafting and/ or Design Technology/ Technician 3,206 graduates / yr179 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 - 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 the duration of the program?+
The program offers awards ranging from at least 12 weeks to less than 2 academic years.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in reading comprehension, mathematics, critical thinking, and computer-aided drafting.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as an Architectural and Civil Drafter, among other related positions.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a projected growth rate of 4.1%.
What is the CIP code for Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CADD?+
Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CADD is CIP 15.1304 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 knowledge and skills to develop working drawing and electronic simulations in support of civil engineers, geological engineers, and related professionals. Includes instruction in basic civil engineering principles, geological and seismographic mapping, machine drafting, computer-aided drafting (CAD), pipe drafting, survey interpretation, and blueprint reading.
How many institutions offer Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CADD programs?+
12 U.S. institutions reported Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CADD graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 9 states, awarding 87 credentials in the year. That is 0.8% of all Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduates.
How much do Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CADD graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Architectural and Civil Drafters occupation, which Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CADD most directly leads to, pays a median of $66,150 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians field report median earnings of $45,343 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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