2026 Best Value General Drafting & Design Technology/Technician Associate’s Degree 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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 306 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general drafting & design technology/technician students.
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2026 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
For return on investment in general drafting & design technology/technician, no school beat Georgia Northwestern Technical College this year. Set in the city of Rome, Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,300, compared with $5,868 for out-of-state students. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $8,492 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from Georgia Northwestern Technical College generally make around $41,229. That is a strong return on a $8,492 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Fresno City College earned it the #2 place for general drafting & design technology/technician. Fresno City College is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. In-state tuition and fees average $1,378, compared with $8,638 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $7,234. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates of Fresno City College earn a median of $37,470 early in their careers. Set against $7,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Centro College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general drafting & design technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,730, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $41,295 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general drafting & design technology/technician will find it at Santa Ana College, which ranked #4. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,756. Students borrow a median of $11,196 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates of Santa Ana College earn a median of $39,633 early in their careers. Set against $11,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Metropolitan Community College Area one of the best values for general drafting & design technology/technician. Set in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,375 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,950. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $12,799. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates of Metropolitan Community College Area earn a median of $45,583 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,799 median debt.
South Texas College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value general drafting & design technology/technician schools. Set in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,920 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $6,868 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from South Texas College generally make around $30,227. Set against $6,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Alvin Community College landed the #7 spot for general drafting & design technology/technician value this year. Located in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,906, while out-of-state students pay about $4,402. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $8,600. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $55,057. That is a strong return on a $8,600 median debt.
Oakland Community College placed #8 among the best values for general drafting & design technology/technician. Located in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,120, compared with $5,560 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $43,205. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chattahoochee Technical College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value general drafting & design technology/technician schools. Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Marietta. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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.
Butte College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value general drafting & design technology/technician schools. Set in the rural area of Oroville, Butte College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,356, compared with $9,276 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,302 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $67,048. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sierra College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value general drafting & design technology/technician schools. Located in the suburb of Rocklin, Sierra College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,446. Students borrow a median of $12,733 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $29,214. Set against $12,733 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Palomar College came in at #12 for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,354, while out-of-state students pay about $10,650. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,300.
New Mexico State University Dona Ana earned the #13 position for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,322, while out-of-state students pay about $6,360. Students borrow a median of $10,284 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $39,399. Set against $10,284 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Carolina Technical College placed #14 among the best values for general drafting & design technology/technician. Located in the city of Sumter, Central Carolina Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,715 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,016. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $15,750. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from Central Carolina Technical College generally make around $40,598. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bevill State Community College placed #15 among the best values for general drafting & design technology/technician. Bevill State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Jasper. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,734, with out-of-state students paying around $8,346. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $11,040. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from Bevill State Community College generally make around $38,514. That is a strong return on a $11,040 median debt.
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value general drafting & design technology/technician schools. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Texas At Brownsville ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value general drafting & design technology/technician schools. The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public school located in the city of Brownsville. Students from in state pay about $3,148 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,948. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $10,058. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates of The University Of Texas At Brownsville earn a median of $30,343 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,058 median debt.
Bluegrass Community And Technical College earned the #18 position for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Lexington, Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,808, while out-of-state students pay about $6,512. Students borrow a median of $13,366 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates of Bluegrass Community And Technical College earn a median of $44,431 early in their careers. Set against $13,366 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Holmes Community College landed the #19 spot for general drafting & design technology/technician value this year. Set in the rural area of Goodman, Holmes Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,710 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,610. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $13,191 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from Holmes Community College generally make around $32,145. Set against $13,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ivy Tech Community College earned the #20 position for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $12,151. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $41,467. Set against $12,151 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Community College landed the #21 spot for general drafting & design technology/technician value this year. Central Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Grand Island. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,360, while out-of-state students pay about $4,800. Students borrow a median of $10,277 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $43,218. That is a strong return on a $10,277 median debt.
Lee College placed #22 among the best values for general drafting & design technology/technician. Lee College is a large public school located in the city of Baytown. Students from in state pay about $2,520 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,045 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $10,941. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $53,448. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Houston Community College came in at #23 for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. In-state tuition and fees average $2,040, compared with $5,460 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $12,040. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $45,548. Set against $12,040 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Central Texas College came in at #24 for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Located in the town of Gainesville, North Central Texas College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,600, compared with $5,739 for out-of-state students. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $15,965 in student loans. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $43,536. Set against $15,965 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College placed #25 among the best values for general drafting & design technology/technician. Located in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,250, while out-of-state students pay about $7,850. Students borrow a median of $10,625 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College generally make around $35,706. Set against $10,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value General Drafting & Design Technology/Technician Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general drafting & design technology/technician value ranking:
Other General Drafting & Design Technology/Technician Degree Levels
Explore the best-value general drafting & design technology/technician schools at other degree levels:
View All General Drafting & Design Technology/Technician Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 306 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
