by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 217 U.S. colleges awarded 4,213 degrees and certificates in General Drafting & Design Technology. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 44% of graduates. College Factual ranks 100 schools in its 2027 Best General Drafting & 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 General Drafting & Design Technology explores Drafting And Design Technology/technician, General. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Generally Apply Technical Skills To Create Working Drawings And Computer Simulations For A Variety Of Applications. Includes Instruction In Specification Interpretation, Dimensioning Techniques, Drafting Calculations, Material Estimation, Technical Communications, Computer Applications, And Interpersonal Communications.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, general drafting & design technology draws strong interest, with 4,213 degrees awarded annually. 217 colleges award general drafting & design technology degrees, an average of 19 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 186.
By level, the 4,213 awards include 777 certificates, 1,154 associate degrees, 325 bachelor’s degrees and 1,864 master’s degrees.
Women earned 35% of general drafting & design technology degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,466 of 4,213). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2,244) and Hispanic or Latino (1,098), and international students earned 158.
College Factual ranks 100 schools in its 2027 Best General Drafting & Design Technology Schools ranking, including 40 for associate degrees, 7 for bachelor’s degrees and 4 for master’s degrees. It also ranks general drafting & design technology schools within 13 states. In all, 217 colleges offer general drafting & design technology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Drafting & Design Technology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general drafting & design technology credential is the master’s degree: 1,864 of the 4,213 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general drafting & 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 general drafting & design technology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 777 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,154 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 325 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,864 |
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general drafting & 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% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to General Drafting & 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 general drafting & 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% |
General Drafting & 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 general drafting & 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 |
General Drafting & Design Technology has 7 similar majors in the Engineering Technologies field, which together award 6,133 degrees a year; the largest are CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician (3,206), 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.
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