by our College Data Analytics TeamCAD/CADD Drafting &/or Design Technology was the 481st most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 2,270 degrees in this year alone. This 262 less than the prior year, a decrease of 11.5%.
This year's Best CAD/CADD Drafting &/or Design Technology Schools ranking compares 31 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of CAD/CADD drafting tech programs later in this article.
When studying CAD/CADD Drafting Tech, you’ll learn that giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs. Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents and using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems are all required skills for careers related to this major.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. In addition to these basic CAD/CADD drafting and/or design technology/technician program qualifications, to serve in some CAD/CADD drafting tech careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are many different CAD/CADD drafting tech degree levels. You can get anything from a in CAD/CADD drafting and/or design technology/technician to the highest CAD/CADD drafting tech degree, a . CAD/CADD Drafting &/or Design Technology programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
An associate degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to CAD/CADD drafting tech, with approximately 39.3% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to CAD/CADD drafting tech tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 36.7% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 23.1% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 20.3% |
| Some College Courses | 9.0% |
| High School Diploma | 5.7% |
Most workers in CAD/CADD drafting tech have at least a associate degree. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in CAD/CADD drafting and/or design technology/technician have received.
The education level required is different depending on the CAD/CADD drafting tech career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your CAD/CADD drafting tech degree? CAD/CADD Drafting &/or Design Technology careers are expected to grow 7.1% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to CAD/CADD drafting and/or design technology/technician.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | 107,700 | 8.1% |
| Mechanical Drafters | 68,200 | 5.2% |
| Electrical and Electronics Drafters | 29,300 | 6.9% |
| Drafters | 17,200 | 8.2% |
As you might expect, salaries for CAD/CADD drafting tech graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for CAD/CADD drafting and/or design technology/technician graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers CAD/CADD drafting tech grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Electrical and Electronics Drafters | $64,400 |
| Mechanical Drafters | $59,010 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $56,700 |
| Drafters | $54,240 |
With over 369 different CAD/CADD drafting tech degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased CAD/CADD drafting tech school rankings to help you with this.
One of 7 majors within the Drafting & Design Engineering Technology area of study, CAD/CADD Drafting &/or Design Technology has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Drafting & Design Technology | 4,232 |
| Architectural Drafting & Architectural CAD/CADD | 1,157 |
| Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD | 1,082 |
| Civil Drafting & Civil Engineering CAD/CADD | 86 |
| Other Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies | 70 |
