by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 477 U.S. colleges awarded 10,346 degrees and certificates in Drafting & Design Engineering Technology. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 49% of graduates. College Factual ranks 227 schools in its 2027 Best Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $46,481 one year after completing, rising to $60,644 after four years.
The planning process that goes into constructing a building is more extensive than we might assume. There are many hours of work and last-minute changes that take place before the actual blueprints are approved. If you would like to have a hand in crafting designs for buildings and projects, Drafting and Design Technology could be the major for you.
The study of Drafting and Design Technology teaches students the creative drawing, planning, and computer modeling that is used to construct a building or manufacture a product. Students won't only learn how to create plan for buildings, they also have the potential to learn how to draft dams, aircrafts, and machinery. Learning includes instruction in manufacturing materials and processes, drafting calculations, manufacturing circuitry, blueprint reading, and technical communication. While learning these new skills you will be taking classes in Architectural drafting, Construction materials, Product design, and Engineering Design graphics.
There are different concentrations within this major. A few of these concentrations include, CAD/CADD Drafting and Design Technology, Architectural Drafting, Civil Drafting, and Mechanical Drafting. This major is commonly offered as an Associate's degree, however can also be offered a Bachelors degree.
Studying Drafting & Design Engineering Technology covers Drafting/design Engineering Technologies/technicians.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, drafting & design engineering technology is a popular field of study, with 10,346 degrees awarded annually. 477 colleges award drafting & design engineering technology degrees, an average of 22 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 547.
By level, the 10,346 awards include 1,539 certificates, 2,736 associate degrees, 646 bachelor’s degrees, 5,081 master’s degrees and 2 doctorates.
Women earned 36% of drafting & design engineering technology degrees and certificates in the latest year (3,779 of 10,346). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (5,337) and Hispanic or Latino (2,729), and international students earned 518.
College Factual ranks 227 schools in its 2027 Best Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools ranking, including 99 for associate degrees, 11 for bachelor’s degrees and 5 for master’s degrees. It also ranks drafting & design engineering technology schools within 24 states. In all, 477 colleges offer drafting & design engineering technology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common drafting & design engineering technology credential is the master’s degree: 5,081 of the 10,346 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to drafting & design engineering technology call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of Design, Engineering and Technology and Computers and Electronics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Near Vision, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Students who have strong mathematic and scientific skill are commonly successful within this major, as this makes up the basis for the major. It is important for students pay close attention to detail. While designing and drafting one small error can cause major concerns, therefore detail and the ability to concentrate for long periods of time is significant. The ability to take criticism and work in teams is a large part of this field, as well.
Students who are interested in this major should take prior classes in Computer/graphic arts, Geometry, Physics, and Industrial Art if available. The courses will help prepare students for the future course work they will be studying.
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How long a drafting & design engineering technology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1,539 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2,736 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 646 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 5,081 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2 |
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to drafting & design engineering technology, at 40.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 40.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 31.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 15.3% |
| Some college courses | 7.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.4% |
| Master’s degree | 2.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Drafting & Design Engineering Technology, with an average median salary of $96,397; the strongest outlook belongs to Architectural and Civil Drafters, at 13.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include CAD Draftsman (Computer-Aided Design Draftsman), Drafter, CADD Drafter (Computer-Aided Design and Drafting Drafter) and AutoCAD Technician.
If you are interested in pursuing Drafting and Design Technology, you can expect a career as an electrical drafter, civil drafter, process piping or pipeline drafter, aeronautical drafter, or mechanical drafter. All these drafters work with different structures. For example an Aeronautical drafter designs aircrafts and missile parts. A civil drafter will design bridges, highways, and other structures.
The occupation related to drafting & design engineering technology with the most projected jobs is Electrical and Electronics Drafters, at 161,833.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and Electronics Drafters | 161,833 | 12.3% |
| Mechanical Drafters | 127,074 | 12.6% |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | 114,684 | 13.5% |
| Drafters, All Other | 32,528 | -1.4% |
Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates earn a median $46,481 one year after completing their program, $60,644 after four years and $56,760 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $46,481 |
| 4 years | $60,644 |
| 5 years | $56,760 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to drafting & design engineering technology is Drafters, All Other, with a median salary of $114,777.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Drafters, All Other | $114,777 |
| Electrical and Electronics Drafters | $109,781 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $82,779 |
| Mechanical Drafters | $78,252 |
Drafting & Design Engineering Technology includes 8 concentrations that together award 10,346 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, General (4,213), CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician (3,206) and Architectural Drafting and Architectural CAD/CADD (1,734). It has 18 similar majors in the Engineering Technologies field, which together award 88,701 degrees a year; the largest are Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (13,228), Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (12,892) and Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians (12,771). Browse all Engineering Technologies majors or the full list of college majors.
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