2027 Best Value General Drafting & Design Technology/Technician Schools
[General Drafting & Design Technology/Technician](/majors/engineering-technologies/drafting-design-engineering-technology/drafting-and-design-technology-technician-general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 132 schools to find the best return on investment for general drafting & design technology/technician students.
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Finding the Best Value General Drafting & Design Technology/Technician School for You
Where you study general drafting & design technology/technician affects both what you pay and what you earn. To help, we created our Best Value General Drafting & Design Technology/Technician Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
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Customizing Your List
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value General Drafting & Design Technology/Technician Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
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2027 Best Value General Drafting & Design Technology/Technician Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general drafting & design technology/technician degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Drafting & Design Technology/Technician Schools
El Centro College tops our 2027 list of the best value general drafting & design technology/technician schools in the United States. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $41,295. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at George C Wallace State Community College Dothan earned it the #2 place for general drafting & design technology/technician. Set in the city of Dothan, George C Wallace State Community College Dothan is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,980, while out-of-state students pay about $8,850. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $9,942. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $34,762. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Ana College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value general drafting & design technology/technician schools. Set in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,756. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $39,633. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cerritos College earned it the #4 place for general drafting & design technology/technician. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. In-state tuition and fees average $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $29,495. Set against $11,306 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Del Mar College one of the best values for general drafting & design technology/technician. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,500, compared with $6,050 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,476 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $40,661. That is a strong return on a $7,476 median debt.
Pasadena City College came in at #6 for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,924. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $9,191. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $38,841 early in their careers. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chattahoochee Technical College landed the #7 spot for general drafting & design technology/technician value this year. Located in the suburb of Marietta, Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,540, compared with $6,108 for out-of-state students. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,616 in student loans. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $44,673. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Regional Technical College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value general drafting & design technology/technician schools. Set in the town of Thomasville, Southern Regional Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,007, compared with $5,575 for out-of-state students. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,086 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from Southern Regional Technical College generally make around $44,007. That is a strong return on a $9,086 median debt.
South Texas College earned the #9 position for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,920, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $6,868 in student loans. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates of South Texas College earn a median of $30,227 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lamar State College Port Arthur placed #10 among the best values for general drafting & design technology/technician. Located in the city of Port Arthur, Lamar State College Port Arthur is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,770, with out-of-state students paying around $8,070. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $33,385 in student loans. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates of Lamar State College Port Arthur earn a median of $78,580 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pima Community College placed #11 among the best values for general drafting & design technology/technician. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $7,758. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $10,655 in student loans. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of $40,977 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Brazosport College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value general drafting & design technology/technician schools. Located in the suburb of Lake Jackson, Brazosport College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,388, with out-of-state students paying around $4,711. Students borrow a median of $6,625 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $32,746. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Joaquin Delta College came in at #13 for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Stockton, San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $9,772. Students borrow a median of $6,382 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from San Joaquin Delta College generally make around $65,168. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northwest Shoals Community College placed #14 among the best values for general drafting & design technology/technician. Northwest Shoals Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Muscle Shoals. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,131, with out-of-state students paying around $9,001. Students borrow a median of $13,312 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $33,842. That is a strong return on a $13,312 median debt.
Hinds Community College came in at #15 for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Located in the rural area of Raymond, Hinds Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,250, compared with $7,300 for out-of-state students. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $16,385 in student loans. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $34,003. Set against $16,385 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Amarillo College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value general drafting & design technology/technician schools. Amarillo College is a large public school located in the city of Amarillo. In-state tuition and fees average $2,136, with out-of-state students paying around $4,704. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $15,720 in student loans. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $41,053. That is a strong return on a $15,720 median debt.
Citrus College landed the #17 spot for general drafting & design technology/technician value this year. Located in the suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,204, with out-of-state students paying around $10,636. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,065 ten years after entry.
Victor Valley College came in at #18 for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Set in the suburb of Victorville, Victor Valley College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,425, compared with $10,125 for out-of-state students. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $7,995 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from Victor Valley College generally make around $37,755. Set against $7,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hazard Community And Technical College earned the #19 position for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Located in the town of Hazard, Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $12,212. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $32,626. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wharton County Junior College earned the #20 position for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Located in the town of Wharton, Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,192, compared with $5,904 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,916 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates of Wharton County Junior College earn a median of $40,554 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Atlanta Technical College placed #21 among the best values for general drafting & design technology/technician. Atlanta Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Atlanta. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,382, compared with $5,950 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,655 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $35,441. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Metropolitan Community College Area landed the #22 spot for general drafting & design technology/technician value this year. Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public school located in the city of Omaha. In-state tuition and fees average $3,375, compared with $4,950 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $12,799. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $45,583. Set against $12,799 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Suffolk County Community College earned the #23 position for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,630, with out-of-state students paying around $12,460. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $11,246 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $35,667. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College came in at #24 for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,245 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from Elizabethtown Community And Technical College generally make around $45,486. That is a strong return on a $12,245 median debt.
El Paso Community College earned the #25 position for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. In-state tuition and fees average $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Students borrow a median of $8,542 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $29,086. That is a strong return on a $8,542 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value General Drafting & Design Technology/Technician Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for general drafting & design technology/technician this year:
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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 · 132 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 132 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.
