2027 Best Value Civil Drafting & Civil Engineering CAD/CADD Associate’s Degree Schools
[Civil Drafting & Civil Engineering CAD/CADD](/majors/engineering-technologies/drafting-design-engineering-technology/civil-drafting-and-civil-engineering-cad-cadd/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd students.
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2027 Best Value Civil Drafting & Civil Engineering CAD/CADD Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Civil Drafting & Civil Engineering CAD/CADD Schools
Santa Ana College tops our 2027 list of the best value civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd schools in the United States. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,756 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,196 to complete the civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd program here. Early-career civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd graduates make about $39,633. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Utah Valley University earned it the #2 place for civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. In-state tuition and fees average $6,507, compared with $18,489 for out-of-state students. Civil Drafting & Civil Engineering Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $16,478 in student loans. Soon after graduation, civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd degree recipients from Utah Valley University generally make around $51,242. Set against $16,478 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Joaquin Delta College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Stockton, San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, compared with $9,772 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,382 to complete the civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd program here. Soon after graduation, civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd degree recipients from San Joaquin Delta College generally make around $65,168. That is a strong return on a $6,382 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pima Community College earned it the #4 place for civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd. Pima Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,442, while out-of-state students pay about $7,758. Typical student debt for civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd graduates is $10,655. Early-career civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd graduates make about $40,977. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Austin Community College District earned it the #5 place for civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,550, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Civil Drafting & Civil Engineering Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans. Civil Drafting & Civil Engineering Cad/cadd graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $50,584 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
New Mexico State University Dona Ana placed #6 among the best values for civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd. Located in the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,322 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,360. Students borrow a median of $10,284 to complete the civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd program here. Early-career civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd graduates make about $39,399. Set against $10,284 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology came in at #7 for value in civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd this year. Located in the suburb of Kirkland, Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,997 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,062 for out-of-state students. Civil Drafting & Civil Engineering Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $19,695 in student loans. Early-career civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd graduates make about $60,000. That is a strong return on a $19,695 median debt.
Rio Hondo College came in at #8 for value in civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd this year. Set in the rural area of Whittier, Rio Hondo College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,388, while out-of-state students pay about $9,884. Typical student debt for civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd graduates is $15,510. Civil Drafting & Civil Engineering Cad/cadd graduates of Rio Hondo College earn a median of $95,666 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,510 median debt.
Other Civil Drafting & Civil Engineering CAD/CADD Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Civil Drafting & Civil Engineering CAD/CADD rankings across degree levels:
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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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
