by our College Data Analytics TeamGeneral Drafting & Design Technology was the 335th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 4,232 degrees in this year alone. This 354 less than the prior year, a decrease of 8.4%.
Our 2023 Best General Drafting & Design Technology Schools ranking analyzes 40 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for general drafting and design technology students. Explore this or one of our many other custom general drafting and design tech rankings further below.
When studying General Drafting & Design 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.
general drafting and design technology degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. In addition to these basic general drafting and design technology program qualifications, to serve in some general drafting and design tech careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are various different levels of general drafting and design tech degrees. You can spend many years getting as high as a in general drafting and design technology to something that takes less time like a . General Drafting & 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 general drafting and design tech, with approximately 39.3% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for general drafting and design tech workers below.
| 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% |
70.3% of general drafting and design tech workers have at least a associate. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in general drafting and design technology careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the general drafting and design tech career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your general drafting and design tech degree? General Drafting & 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 general drafting and design technology.
| 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 general drafting and design tech graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for general drafting and design technology graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers general drafting and design 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 581 different general drafting and design 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 general drafting and design tech school rankings to help you with this.
One of 7 majors within the Drafting & Design Engineering Technology area of study, General Drafting & Design Technology has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| CAD/CADD Drafting &/or Design Technology | 2,270 |
| 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 |
