2026 Best Value Architectural Drafting & Architectural CAD/CADD Associate’s Degree Schools
[Architectural Drafting & Architectural CAD/CADD](/majors/engineering-technologies/drafting-design-engineering-technology/architectural-drafting-and-architectural-cad-cadd/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 133 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd schools.
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2026 Best Value Architectural Drafting & Architectural CAD/CADD Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Architectural Drafting & Architectural CAD/CADD Schools
College Of The Canyons earned the #1 spot for value among architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd schools in the United States. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,166, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,776 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes El Centro College one of the best values for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,730 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $41,295 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Ana College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd, landing the #3 spot this year. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,756. Typical student debt for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates is $11,196. Early-career architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates make about $39,633. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Metropolitan Community College Area came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd schools. Set in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,375 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,950. Typical student debt for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates is $12,799. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates of Metropolitan Community College Area earn a median of $45,583 early in their careers. Set against $12,799 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny Queensborough Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd, landing the #5 spot this year. Cuny Queensborough Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bayside. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,210, with out-of-state students paying around $8,090. Typical student debt for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates is $10,052. Early-career architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates make about $23,674. Set against $10,052 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny New York City College Of Technology earned the #6 position for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,332, with out-of-state students paying around $15,282. Typical student debt for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates is $11,492. Soon after graduation, architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd degree recipients from Cuny New York City College Of Technology generally make around $44,323. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Central New Mexico Community College earned the #7 position for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,060, compared with $8,684 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,112 to complete the architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd program here. Soon after graduation, architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $34,751. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology placed #8 among the best values for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd. Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Kirkland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,997, compared with $12,062 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates is $19,695. Early-career architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates make about $60,000. Set against $19,695 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sierra College placed #9 among the best values for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd. Located in the suburb of Rocklin, Sierra College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,446 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $12,733 to complete the architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd program here. Early-career architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates make about $29,214. That is a strong return on a $12,733 median debt.
Palomar College earned the #10 position for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,354, with out-of-state students paying around $10,650. Median earnings reach $42,300 ten years out.
New Mexico State University Dona Ana earned the #11 position for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Las Cruces. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,322, with out-of-state students paying around $6,360. Typical student debt for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates is $10,284. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates of New Mexico State University Dona Ana earn a median of $39,399 early in their careers. Set against $10,284 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Macomb Community College came in at #12 for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. Macomb Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Warren. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Students borrow a median of $8,296 to complete the architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd program here. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of $44,701 early in their careers. Set against $8,296 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Dupage came in at #13 for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $12,750. Typical student debt for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates is $12,492. Early-career architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates make about $43,025. That is a strong return on a $12,492 median debt.
Bluegrass Community And Technical College placed #14 among the best values for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd. Set in the city of Lexington, Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,808, while out-of-state students pay about $6,512. Typical student debt for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates is $13,366. Early-career architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates make about $44,431. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Austin Community College District came in at #15 for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,550, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans. Early-career architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates make about $50,584. That is a strong return on a $14,000 median debt.
Ivy Tech Community College earned the #16 position for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $12,151 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $41,467. Set against $12,151 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Montgomery College earned the #17 position for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. Set in the city of Rockville, Montgomery College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,394, with out-of-state students paying around $14,250. Typical student debt for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates is $11,230. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates of Montgomery College earn a median of $24,833 early in their careers. Set against $11,230 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Utah Valley University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd schools. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,507, compared with $18,489 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates is $16,478. Early-career architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates make about $55,893. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fullerton College came in at #19 for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, Fullerton College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,151, compared with $12,379 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,366 ten years after entry.
Northeast Community College landed the #20 spot for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd value this year. Set in the town of Norfolk, Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,840, while out-of-state students pay about $5,130. Students borrow a median of $11,937 to complete the architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd program here. Early-career architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates make about $40,568. Set against $11,937 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southeast Community College Area ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd schools. Set in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,444, compared with $4,032 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,437 to complete the architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd program here. Soon after graduation, architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd degree recipients from Southeast Community College Area generally make around $44,877. That is a strong return on a $16,437 median debt.
Waukesha County Technical College came in at #22 for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. Set in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,803 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,046. Students borrow a median of $14,500 to complete the architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd program here. Soon after graduation, architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd degree recipients from Waukesha County Technical College generally make around $46,460. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Puget Sound Community College earned the #23 position for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. South Puget Sound Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Olympia. Students from in state pay about $5,257 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,818. Typical student debt for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates is $14,245. Soon after graduation, architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd degree recipients from South Puget Sound Community College generally make around $39,430. Set against $14,245 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kirkwood Community College earned the #24 position for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. Set in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,176, while out-of-state students pay about $8,220. Students borrow a median of $15,779 to complete the architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd program here. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates of Kirkwood Community College earn a median of $41,681 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Vincennes University landed the #25 spot for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd value this year. Located in the town of Vincennes, Vincennes University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,126, compared with $16,858 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates is $14,506. Early-career architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates make about $45,976. That is a strong return on a $14,506 median debt.
Rest of the Top 35 Best Value Architectural Drafting & Architectural CAD/CADD Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd value ranking:
Other Architectural Drafting & Architectural CAD/CADD Degree Levels
Explore the best-value architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd schools at other degree levels:
View All Architectural Drafting & Architectural CAD/CADD Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 133 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
