2027 Best Value Architectural Drafting & Architectural CAD/CADD Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Architectural Drafting & Architectural CAD/CADD](/majors/engineering-technologies/drafting-design-engineering-technology/architectural-drafting-and-architectural-cad-cadd/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 17 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd students.
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2027 Best Value Architectural Drafting & Architectural CAD/CADD Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Architectural Drafting & Architectural CAD/CADD Schools
For return on investment in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd, no school beat Macomb Community College this year. Set in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,660 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Students borrow a median of $8,296 to complete the architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd program here. Early-career architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates make about $44,701. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Illinois Valley Community College one of the best values for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd. Located in the town of Oglesby, Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,200, while out-of-state students pay about $16,385. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $8,099 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd degree recipients from Illinois Valley Community College generally make around $33,224. That is a strong return on a $8,099 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Lewis And Clark Community College one of the best values for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd. Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Godfrey. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,340, compared with $7,840 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates is $9,602. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates of Lewis And Clark Community College earn a median of $41,313 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,602 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd will find it at Triton College, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,070 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,330. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $12,994 in student loans. Early-career architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates make about $43,278. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oakton Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd schools. Set in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,985 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,462. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $7,750 in student loans. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates of Oakton Community College earn a median of $48,838 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oakland Community College came in at #6 for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. Oakland Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Auburn Hills. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,120, with out-of-state students paying around $5,560. Typical student debt for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates is $13,750. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates of Oakland Community College earn a median of $45,844 early in their careers. Set against $13,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Stark State College came in at #7 for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,790, while out-of-state students pay about $7,886. Students borrow a median of $17,349 to complete the architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd program here. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates of Stark State College earn a median of $42,724 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,349 median debt.
Ivy Tech Community College earned the #8 position for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Students borrow a median of $12,151 to complete the architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd program here. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $41,467 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kaskaskia College placed #9 among the best values for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd. Located in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800, with out-of-state students paying around $12,570. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $7,875 in student loans. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates of Kaskaskia College earn a median of $45,658 early in their careers. Set against $7,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Dupage landed the #10 spot for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd value this year. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates is $12,492. Soon after graduation, architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $43,025. Set against $12,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd schools. City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $11,533 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College generally make around $33,960. Set against $11,533 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Lake County came in at #12 for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,788, with out-of-state students paying around $14,400. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $9,785 in student loans. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $50,314 early in their careers. Set against $9,785 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd schools. Located in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,926, compared with $7,169 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates is $11,384. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates of Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College earn a median of $35,981 early in their careers. Set against $11,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Waukesha County Technical College earned the #14 position for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. Located in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,803, 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. That is a strong return on a $14,500 median debt.
Vincennes University earned the #15 position for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. Set in the town of Vincennes, Vincennes University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,126, while out-of-state students pay about $16,858. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $14,506 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd degree recipients from Vincennes University generally make around $45,976. That is a strong return on a $14,506 median debt.
Waubonsee Community College landed the #16 spot for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd value this year. Located in the rural area of Sugar Grove, Waubonsee Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,504, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,939 to complete the architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd program here. Soon after graduation, architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd degree recipients from Waubonsee Community College generally make around $39,659. Set against $9,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Harper College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd schools. Set in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,894, with out-of-state students paying around $11,874. Typical student debt for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates is $10,963. Early-career architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates make about $44,523. That is a strong return on a $10,963 median debt.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
