by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 101 U.S. colleges awarded 911 degrees and certificates in Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 48% of graduates. College Factual ranks 25 schools in its 2027 Best Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD 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 degree in Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD involves the study of Mechanical Drafting And Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To Develop Working Drawings And Electronic Simulations In Support Of Mechanical And Industrial Engineers, And Related Professionals. Includes Instruction In Manufacturing Materials And Processes, Mechanical Drafting, Electrode-Mechanical Drafting, Basic Metallurgy, Geometric Dimensioning And Tolerancing, Blueprint Reading, And Technical Communication.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd is a widely-pursued major, with 911 degrees awarded annually. 101 colleges award mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd degrees, an average of 9 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 49.
By level, the 911 awards include 137 certificates, 331 associate degrees, 2 bachelor’s degrees and 439 master’s degrees.
Women earned 22% of mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd degrees and certificates in the latest year (197 of 911). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (568) and Hispanic or Latino (158), and international students earned 15.
College Factual ranks 25 schools in its 2027 Best Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD Schools ranking, including 13 for associate degrees. It also ranks mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd schools within 7 states. In all, 101 colleges offer mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd credential is the master’s degree: 439 of the 911 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd call most for Active Listening, Mathematics and Active Learning, and for knowledge of Design, Engineering and Technology and Mechanical, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Near Vision, Visualization and Mathematical Reasoning.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 137 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 331 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 439 |
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd, at 61.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 61.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 20.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 8.0% |
| Some college courses | 7.5% |
| Master’s degree | 2.8% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD, with an average median salary of $78,252; the strongest outlook belongs to Mechanical Drafters, at 12.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Tool Design Drafter, AutoCAD Technician, Mechanical Piping Designer and Auto Design Layout Drafter (Automotive Design Layout Drafter).
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd, at 127,074.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Drafters | 127,074 | 12.6% |
Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD 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 same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd, with a median salary of $78,252.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Drafters | $78,252 |
Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD has 7 similar majors in the Engineering Technologies field, which together award 9,435 degrees a year; the largest are Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, General (4,213), CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician (3,206) and Architectural Drafting and Architectural CAD/CADD (1,734). Browse all Engineering Technologies majors or the full list of college majors.
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