2027 Best Value CAD/CADD Drafting &/or Design Technology/Technician Schools in Illinois
[CAD/CADD Drafting &/or Design Technology/Technician](/majors/engineering-technologies/drafting-design-engineering-technology/cad-cadd-drafting-and-or-design-technology-technician/) 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 cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician students.
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2027 Best Value CAD/CADD Drafting &/or Design Technology/Technician Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value CAD/CADD Drafting &/or Design Technology/Technician Schools
Our analysis ranked Joliet Junior College the best value for a degree in cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician in Illinois. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,530, while out-of-state students pay about $13,800. Typical student debt for cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician graduates is $11,995. Early-career cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician graduates make about $40,118. That is a strong return on a $11,995 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician will find it at Illinois Valley Community College, which ranked #2. Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Oglesby. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,200, while out-of-state students pay about $16,385. Cad/cadd Drafting &/or Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $8,099 in student loans. Early-career cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician graduates make about $33,224. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician will find it at Lewis And Clark Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,340, compared with $7,840 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician graduates is $9,602. Cad/cadd Drafting &/or Design Technology/technician 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 cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,070, while out-of-state students pay about $15,330. Typical student debt for cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician graduates is $12,994. Early-career cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician graduates make about $43,278. That is a strong return on a $12,994 median debt.
Oakton Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,985, compared with $12,462 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,750 to complete the cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician degree recipients from Oakton Community College generally make around $48,838. That is a strong return on a $7,750 median debt.
Elgin Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician schools. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,252, while out-of-state students pay about $9,516. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete the cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician program here. Early-career cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician graduates make about $43,975. That is a strong return on a $7,727 median debt.
Mchenry County College came in at #7 for value in cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician this year. Set in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,162, compared with $14,399 for out-of-state students. Cad/cadd Drafting &/or Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $7,440 in student loans. Early-career cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician graduates make about $24,177. That is a strong return on a $7,440 median debt.
College Of Dupage earned the #8 position for value in cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician 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, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Cad/cadd Drafting &/or Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,492 in student loans. Early-career cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician graduates make about $43,025. That is a strong return on a $12,492 median debt.
College Of Lake County earned the #9 position for value in cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician 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, compared with $14,400 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician graduates is $9,785. Soon after graduation, cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician degree recipients from College Of Lake County generally make around $50,314. That is a strong return on a $9,785 median debt.
Waubonsee Community College came in at #10 for value in cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician this year. Located in the rural area of Sugar Grove, Waubonsee Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,504, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Cad/cadd Drafting &/or Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,939 in student loans. Soon after graduation, cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician degree recipients from Waubonsee Community College generally make around $39,659. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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.
