South Carolina · Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians

Best colleges for Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians in South Carolina

Ranked by graduates a year

Trident Technical College, Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College and Central Carolina Technical College award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees and certificates in South Carolina: 49, 19 and 13 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 9 South Carolina colleges offer Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians and award 127 degrees and certificates a year in all.

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…

Institutions
9
offering CIP 15.13
States offered
49
with a program page
Degrees / yr
127
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
—
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
0
College Scorecard
Median net price
—
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
30%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Mechanical Drafters
$72,080
BLS OEWS May 2025

9 institutions offering Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians in South Carolina

Graduate earnings are not yet reported for these institutions; ordered by graduates a year.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Trident Technical College
Charleston Public
—4930%——
2Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College
Orangeburg Public
—1932%——
3Greenville Technical College
Greenville Public
—1621%——
4Central Carolina Technical College
Sumter Public
—1334%——
5Tri-County Technical College
Pendleton Public
—1242%——
6Midlands Technical College
West Columbia Public
—1118%——
7Piedmont Technical College
Greenwood Public
—333%——
8York Technical College
Rock Hill Public
—330%——
9Aiken Technical College
Graniteville Public
—134%——

Colleges awarding the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees in South Carolina

Top 7 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Trident Technical College
Charleston Public
49Not reported
2Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College
Orangeburg Public
19Not reported
3Central Carolina Technical College
Sumter Public
13Not reported
4Tri-County Technical College
Pendleton Public
12Not reported
5Piedmont Technical College
Greenwood Public
3Not reported
6York Technical College
Rock Hill Public
3Not reported
7Aiken Technical College
Graniteville Public
1Not reported
Show the other 2 South Carolina colleges offering Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Greenville Technical CollegeGreenvillePublic16
Midlands Technical CollegeWest ColumbiaPublic11

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Mechanical Drafters (SOC 17-3013).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
-6.5%
Decline
Openings / yr (US)
~3,300
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$68,510
typically Associate's degree

Top skills

Critical ThinkingActive LearningActive ListeningMathematicsReading ComprehensionSpeaking

What Mechanical Drafters earn in South Carolina

Jobs in South Carolina
640
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$72,080
median $63,740
Best-paying metro
$84,810
Charleston-North Charleston, SC

Related careers

Architectural and Civil Drafters
$68,320 avg · 1,170 jobs
Mechanical Drafters
$72,080 avg · 640 jobs
Electrical and Electronics Drafters
$74,920 avg · 290 jobs
Drafters, All Other
$66,070 avg · 60 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs in South Carolina.

Which South Carolina colleges award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees?+

Trident Technical College (49 graduates a year), Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College (19 graduates a year) and Central Carolina Technical College (13 graduates a year) award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees and certificates in South Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 9 South Carolina colleges offer Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians.

How much do Mechanical Drafters earn in South Carolina?+

The average annual wage for Mechanical Drafters in South Carolina is $72,080 (median $63,740), across about 640 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians program?+

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…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop critical thinking, active learning, active listening, mathematics, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Mechanical Drafters?+

The national job outlook is about -6.5% growth with around 3,300 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Associate's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians in other statesIndianaMissouriUtahOregonKentuckyMichiganMinnesotaIdaho

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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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