by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 179 U.S. colleges awarded 3,206 degrees and certificates in CAD/CADD Drafting &/or Design Technology. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 61% of graduates. College Factual ranks 75 schools in its 2027 Best CAD/CADD Drafting &/or Design 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.
A major in CAD/CADD Drafting &/or Design Technology covers Cad/cadd Drafting And/or Design Technology/technician. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Skills And Advanced Computer Software And Hardware To The Creation Of Graphic Representations And Simulations In Support Of Engineering Projects. Includes Instruction In Engineering Graphics, Two-Dimensional And Three-Dimensional Engineering Design, Solids Modeling, Engineering Animation, Computer-Aided Drafting (Cad), Computer-Aided Design (Cadd), And Auto-Cad Techniques. Examples: [Engineering Graphics And Design], [Engineering Graphics Technology].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology draws strong interest, with 3,206 degrees awarded annually. 179 colleges award cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology degrees, an average of 18 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 547.
By level, the 3,206 awards include 369 certificates, 584 associate degrees, 116 bachelor’s degrees, 1,951 master’s degrees and 2 doctorates.
Women earned 36% of cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,162 of 3,206). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,632) and Hispanic or Latino (893), and international students earned 199.
College Factual ranks 75 schools in its 2027 Best CAD/CADD Drafting &/or Design Technology Schools ranking, including 23 for associate degrees, 6 for bachelor’s degrees and 2 for master’s degrees. It also ranks cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology schools within 11 states. In all, 179 colleges offer cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value CAD/CADD Drafting &/or Design Technology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology credential is the master’s degree: 1,951 of the 3,206 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to cad/cadd drafting &/or design 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.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 369 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 584 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 116 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,951 |
| 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 cad/cadd drafting &/or design 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% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to CAD/CADD Drafting &/or Design 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.
The occupation related to cad/cadd drafting &/or design 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% |
CAD/CADD Drafting &/or Design 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 cad/cadd drafting &/or design 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 |
CAD/CADD Drafting &/or Design Technology has 7 similar majors in the Engineering Technologies field, which together award 7,140 degrees a year; the largest are Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, General (4,213), Architectural Drafting and Architectural CAD/CADD (1,734) and Mechanical Drafting and Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD (911). Browse all Engineering Technologies majors or the full list of college majors.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
