Best institutions to study Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
Any instructional program in drafting/design engineering technologies not listed above.
8 U.S. institutions graduated 57 Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 15.1399, a specialization of Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians (CIP 15.13), and leads most directly to the Drafters, All Other occupation (BLS SOC 17-3019).
About Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs
Any instructional program in drafting/design engineering technologies not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians program focuses on equipping students with the skills needed to design and draft engineering plans and specifications. This program is ideal for individuals interested in pursuing careers in engineering-related technologies and those who enjoy working with technical drawings and design software.
Students in this program will learn essential skills in drafting and design engineering technologies, including the use of computer-aided design (CAD) software, technical drawing techniques, and understanding engineering principles. Coursework may cover various aspects of design, project management, and technical communication.
Credentials awarded
What Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Associate's degree21 graduates / yr · 4 institutions37%
- Bachelor's degree18 graduates / yr · 2 institutions32%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year18 graduates / yr · 3 institutions32%
Graduates over time
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 107 |
| 2013 | 127 |
| 2014 | 107 |
| 2015 | 104 |
| 2016 | 92 |
| 2017 | 161 |
| 2018 | 154 |
| 2019 | 138 |
| 2020 | 72 |
| 2021 | 69 |
| 2022 | 72 |
| 2023 | 100 |
| 2024 | 68 |
| 2025 | 57 |
Top 8 institutions for Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians, 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 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MIPublicBachelor's | 14 | 59% | — | $63,862 |
| 2 | Weber State University Ogden, UTPublicAssociate'sBachelor's | 11 | 46% | — | — |
| 3 | Southeast Community College Area Lincoln, NEPublicAssociate's | 10 | 38% | — | $41,599 |
| 4 | Oakland Community College Auburn Hills, MIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 9 | 21% | — | $45,844 |
| 5 | Northern Essex Community College Haverhill, MAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 21% | — | — |
| 6 | Langston University Langston, OKPublicAssociate's | 2 | 17% | — | — |
| 7 | Luzerne County Community College Nanticoke, PAPublicAssociate's | 2 | 23% | — | — |
| 8 | Pima Community College Tucson, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 28% | — | — |
* 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 7 states
Where Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduates come from. Each state links to all Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 2 | 23 | Central Michigan University14 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 11 | Weber State University11 / yr |
| Nebraska | 1 | 10 | Southeast Community College Area10 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 8 | Northern Essex Community College8 / yr |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 2 | Langston University2 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 2 | Luzerne County Community College2 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 1 | Pima Community College1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 17-3019, Drafters, All Other, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians program can pursue careers as drafters, with an average median wage of $62,010. However, the job outlook indicates a decline of 6.9%, with approximately 1,300 annual openings. Typically, an Associate's degree is required for entry into this field.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 15.1399
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Drafters, All Otherprimary SOC 17-3019 | $63,520 | -6.9% Decline | ~1,300 | Associate's degree |
Related careers
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 - 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
See all Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs →
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn an Associate's degree, Bachelor's degree, or an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 8 colleges offering this program across the United States.
What is the typical education required for careers in this field?+
Most careers in this field typically require an Associate's degree.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 6.9%, with about 1,300 annual job openings.
What is the CIP code for Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians?+
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians is CIP 15.1399 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: Any instructional program in drafting/design engineering technologies not listed above.
How many institutions offer Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs?+
8 U.S. institutions reported Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 7 states, awarding 57 credentials in the year. That is 0.6% of all Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduates.
How much do Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Drafters, All Other occupation, which Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians most directly leads to, pays a median of $63,520 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians field report median earnings of $45,844 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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