2027 Best Value Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD](/majors/engineering-technologies/drafting-design-engineering-technology/mechanical-drafting-and-mechanical-drafting-cad-cadd/) 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 15 schools to find the best return on investment for mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd students.
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2027 Best Value Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD Schools
For return on investment in mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd, no school beat Macomb Community College this year. Set in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $8,296 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd degree recipients from Macomb Community College generally make around $44,701. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Triton College one of the best values for mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd. Triton College is a large public school located in the suburb of River Grove. In-state tuition and fees average $5,070, with out-of-state students paying around $15,330. Typical student debt for mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd graduates is $12,994. Soon after graduation, mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd degree recipients from Triton College generally make around $43,278. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oakland Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd, landing the #3 spot this year. Oakland Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Auburn Hills. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,120, while out-of-state students pay about $5,560. Typical student debt for mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd graduates is $13,750. Early-career mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd graduates make about $45,844. That is a strong return on a $13,750 median debt.
Ivy Tech Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd, landing the #4 spot this year. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,154, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $12,151 in student loans. Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $41,467 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kaskaskia College earned it the #5 place for mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd. Set in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,570. Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $7,875 in student loans. Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd graduates of Kaskaskia College earn a median of $45,658 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Lake County ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd schools. Set in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,788 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,400 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd graduates is $9,785. Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $50,314 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Grand Rapids Community College came in at #7 for value in mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd this year. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,179 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,219. Typical student debt for mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd graduates is $11,748. Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd graduates of Grand Rapids Community College earn a median of $49,865 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Milwaukee Area Technical College placed #8 among the best values for mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd. Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. In-state tuition and fees average $5,184, with out-of-state students paying around $7,427. Typical student debt for mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd graduates is $18,296. Soon after graduation, mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd degree recipients from Milwaukee Area Technical College generally make around $38,325. That is a strong return on a $18,296 median debt.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College placed #9 among the best values for mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd. Located in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,960, while out-of-state students pay about $7,203. Students borrow a median of $14,997 to complete the mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd program here. Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd graduates of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College earn a median of $42,016 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northcentral Technical College earned the #10 position for value in mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd this year. Located in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,889, while out-of-state students pay about $7,132. Students borrow a median of $8,000 to complete the mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd program here. Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd graduates of Northcentral Technical College earn a median of $53,105 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,000 median debt.
Waukesha County Technical College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd schools. Waukesha County Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Pewaukee. Students from in state pay about $4,803 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,046. Students borrow a median of $14,500 to complete the mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd program here. Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd graduates of Waukesha County Technical College earn a median of $46,460 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Vincennes University landed the #12 spot for mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd value this year. Set in the town of Vincennes, Vincennes University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,126, with out-of-state students paying around $16,858. Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $14,506 in student loans. Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd graduates of Vincennes University earn a median of $45,976 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fox Valley Technical College came in at #13 for value in mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd this year. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,040 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,283. Students borrow a median of $13,319 to complete the mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd program here. Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $44,782 early in their careers. Set against $13,319 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chippewa Valley Technical College earned the #14 position for value in mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd this year. Located in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,844, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,234 to complete the mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd program here. Early-career mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd graduates make about $45,531. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Madison Area Technical College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd schools. Located in the city of Madison, Madison Area Technical College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,977 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,141. Typical student debt for mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd graduates is $16,812. Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd graduates of Madison Area Technical College earn a median of $44,279 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
