2027 Best Value Architectural Drafting & Architectural CAD/CADD Schools in Illinois

[Architectural Drafting & Architectural CAD/CADD](/majors/engineering-technologies/drafting-design-engineering-technology/architectural-drafting-and-architectural-cad-cadd/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd students.
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2027 Best Value Architectural Drafting & Architectural CAD/CADD Schools in Illinois
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
Leading the list is Illinois Valley Community College, our #1 best value for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd in Illinois. Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Oglesby. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,200, compared with $16,385 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates is $8,099. 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.
Lewis And Clark Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,340 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,840 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,602 to complete the architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd program here. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates of Lewis And Clark Community College earn a median of $41,313 early in their careers. Set against $9,602 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Triton College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd, landing the #3 spot this year. Triton College is a large public school located in the suburb of River Grove. Students from in state pay about $5,070 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,330. Students borrow a median of $12,994 to complete the architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd program here. Soon after graduation, architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd degree recipients from Triton College generally make around $43,278. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oakton Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,985, while out-of-state students pay about $12,462. Students borrow a median of $7,750 to complete the architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd program here. Early-career architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates make about $48,838. Set against $7,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kaskaskia College earned it the #5 place for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd. Located in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800, while out-of-state students pay about $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.
City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College landed the #6 spot for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $11,533 in student loans. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College earn a median of $33,960 early in their careers. Set against $11,533 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Dupage landed the #7 spot for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd value this year. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, 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.
College Of Lake County came in at #8 for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. Set in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,788 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,400. Students borrow a median of $9,785 to complete the architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd program here. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $50,314 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,785 median debt.
Waubonsee Community College earned the #9 position for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. Located in the rural area of Sugar Grove, Waubonsee Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,504, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Typical student debt for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates is $9,939. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates of Waubonsee Community College earn a median of $39,659 early in their careers. Set against $9,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Harper College came in at #10 for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,894 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,874 for out-of-state students. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $10,963 in student loans. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates of Harper College earn a median of $44,523 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,963 median debt.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.