Best colleges for Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians in Texas
Ranked by graduate earnings
San Jacinto Community College, Dallas College and Lee College award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees and certificates in Texas: 186, 151 and 104 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 33 Texas colleges offer Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians and award 1,420 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…
Top 3 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. 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 | Texas State Technical College Waco Public · Associate degree | $43,742 | 61 | 46% | — | $13,500 |
| 2 | Houston City College Houston Public · Associate degree | $45,548 | 80 | 17% | — | $12,040 |
| 3 | Austin Community College District Austin Public · Certificate | $45,343 | 109 | 20% | — | $10,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees in Texas
Top 10 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.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jacinto Community College Pasadena Public | 186 | Not reported |
| 2 | Dallas College Dallas Public | 151 | Not reported |
| 3 | Lee College Baytown Public | 104 | Not reported |
| 4 | Texas State Technical College Waco Public | 61 | $43,742 |
| 5 | Brazosport College Lake Jackson Public | 46 | Not reported |
| 6 | Lamar Institute of Technology Beaumont Public | 27 | Not reported |
| 7 | McLennan Community College Waco Public | 24 | Not reported |
| 8 | Grayson College Denison Public | 22 | Not reported |
| 9 | Sam Houston State University Huntsville Public | 22 | Not reported |
| 10 | Amarillo College Amarillo Public | 21 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 23 Texas colleges offering Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Community College District | Austin | Public | 109 |
| Houston City College | Houston | Public | 80 |
| Del Mar College | Corpus Christi | Public | 75 |
| South Texas College | McAllen | Public | 71 |
| Collin County Community College District | McKinney | Public | 70 |
| Tyler Junior College | Tyler | Public | 54 |
| El Paso Community College | El Paso | Public | 43 |
| Alvin Community College | Alvin | Public | 40 |
| Wharton County Junior College | Wharton | Public | 29 |
| Midland College | Midland | Public | 22 |
| North Central Texas College | Gainesville | Public | 19 |
| Laredo College | Laredo | Public | 19 |
| Lamar State College - Port Arthur | Port Arthur | Public | 17 |
| South Plains College | Levelland | Public | 17 |
| Angelina College | Lufkin | Public | 15 |
| Tarrant County College District | Fort Worth | Public | 15 |
| Temple College | Temple | Public | 15 |
| Paris Junior College | Paris | Public | 13 |
| Central Texas College | Killeen | Public | 9 |
| Texas Southmost College | Brownsville | Public | 9 |
| Trinity Valley Community College | Athens | Public | 8 |
| Coastal Bend College | Beeville | Public | 5 |
| College of the Mainland | Texas City | Public | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Mechanical Drafters (SOC 17-3013).
Top skills
What Mechanical Drafters earn in Texas
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs in Texas.
Which Texas colleges award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees?+
San Jacinto Community College (186 graduates a year), Dallas College (151 graduates a year) and Lee College (104 graduates a year) award the most Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians degrees and certificates in Texas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 33 Texas colleges offer Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians.
Which Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians program in Texas has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Texas State Technical College tops the list at $43,742. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Mechanical Drafters earn in Texas?+
The average annual wage for Mechanical Drafters in Texas is $80,450 (median $79,380), across about 4,630 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).
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.
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