2027 Best Value General Drafting & Design Technology/Technician Schools in Texas
[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.
College Factual analyzed 22 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general drafting & design technology/technician schools.
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2027 Best Value General Drafting & Design Technology/Technician Schools in Texas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general drafting & design technology/technician, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Drafting & Design Technology/Technician Schools
Leading the list is El Centro College, our #1 best value for general drafting & design technology/technician in Texas. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $41,295 early in their careers. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in general drafting & design technology/technician will find it at South Texas College, which ranked #2. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $6,868. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from South Texas College generally make around $30,227. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lamar State College Port Arthur earned it the #3 place for general drafting & design technology/technician. Located in the city of Port Arthur, Lamar State College Port Arthur is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,770, compared with $8,070 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $33,385 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $78,580. That is a strong return on a $33,385 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in general drafting & design technology/technician will find it at Del Mar College, which ranked #4. Del Mar College is a large public school located in the city of Corpus Christi. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,500, with out-of-state students paying around $6,050. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $7,476. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $40,661. Set against $7,476 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in general drafting & design technology/technician will find it at El Paso Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,274, compared with $5,314 for out-of-state students. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $8,542 in student loans. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates of El Paso Community College earn a median of $29,086 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Amarillo College ranked #6 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, while out-of-state students pay about $4,704. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $15,720 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from Amarillo College generally make around $41,053. Set against $15,720 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Brazosport College earned the #7 position for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Brazosport College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Lake Jackson. In-state tuition and fees average $2,388, while out-of-state students pay about $4,711. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $6,625. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $32,746. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wharton County Junior College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value general drafting & design technology/technician schools. Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Wharton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,192, compared with $5,904 for out-of-state students. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $10,916 in student loans. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates of Wharton County Junior College earn a median of $40,554 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,916 median debt.
Houston Community College placed #9 among the best values for general drafting & design technology/technician. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,040, compared with $5,460 for out-of-state students. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,040 in student loans. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates of Houston Community College earn a median of $45,548 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mclennan Community College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value general drafting & design technology/technician schools. Set in the city of Waco, Mclennan Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $5,910. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $11,598. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from Mclennan Community College generally make around $40,499. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Grayson College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value general drafting & design technology/technician schools. Grayson College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Denison. In-state tuition and fees average $3,000, compared with $6,300 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,627 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from Grayson College generally make around $42,487. That is a strong return on a $11,627 median debt.
Laredo Community College earned the #12 position for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Laredo, Laredo Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,300, with out-of-state students paying around $5,748. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $6,000. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $41,354. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Lee College came in at #13 for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Lee College is a large public school located in the city of Baytown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,520, compared with $5,045 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $10,941. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from Lee College generally make around $53,448. Set against $10,941 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Central Texas College placed #14 among the best values for general drafting & design technology/technician. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $5,739. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Plains College earned the #15 position for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Set in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,733, compared with $5,157 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $13,788. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates of South Plains College earn a median of $30,949 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Paris Junior College landed the #16 spot for general drafting & design technology/technician value this year. Set in the town of Paris, Paris Junior College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,700, compared with $5,700 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $8,846. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from Paris Junior College generally make around $38,811. That is a strong return on a $8,846 median debt.
Alvin Community College landed the #17 spot for general drafting & design technology/technician value this year. Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Alvin. Students from in state pay about $1,906 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,402 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $8,600. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates of Alvin Community College earn a median of $55,057 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Collin County Community College District placed #18 among the best values for general drafting & design technology/technician. Located in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,014 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,064 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $9,716. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from Collin County Community College District generally make around $42,177. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tyler Junior College placed #19 among the best values for general drafting & design technology/technician. Set in the city of Tyler, Tyler Junior College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,424 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,536. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $14,869 in student loans. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $43,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Jacinto Community College landed the #20 spot for general drafting & design technology/technician value this year. San Jacinto Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,490, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $11,376. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates of San Jacinto Community College earn a median of $38,107 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,376 median debt.
Lamar Institute Of Technology came in at #21 for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Beaumont, Lamar Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,844, with out-of-state students paying around $12,924. Students borrow a median of $14,278 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates of Lamar Institute Of Technology earn a median of $50,068 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,278 median debt.
Sam Houston State University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value general drafting & design technology/technician schools. Set in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,228, with out-of-state students paying around $19,068. Students borrow a median of $24,850 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from Sam Houston State University generally make around $46,365. That is a strong return on a $24,850 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 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.
