2027 Best Value Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD Schools in the Southwest Region
[Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD](/majors/engineering-technologies/drafting-design-engineering-technology/mechanical-drafting-and-mechanical-drafting-cad-cadd/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD Schools in the Southwest 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
Pima Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd schools in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,442, while out-of-state students pay about $7,758. Students borrow a median of $10,655 to complete the mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd program here. Soon after graduation, mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd degree recipients from Pima Community College generally make around $40,977. Set against $10,655 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes El Paso Community College one of the best values for mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,274, while out-of-state students pay about $5,314. Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $8,542 in student loans. Early-career mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd graduates make about $29,086. That is a strong return on a $8,542 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Midland College earned it the #3 place for mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd. Located in the city of Midland, Midland College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,180 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,180. Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd graduates of Midland College earn a median of $43,454 early in their careers. Set against $9,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
New Mexico State University Dona Ana came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd schools. Set in the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,322, while out-of-state students pay about $6,360. Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $10,284 in student loans. Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd graduates of New Mexico State University Dona Ana earn a median of $39,399 early in their careers. Set against $10,284 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Austin Community College District came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd schools. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. In-state tuition and fees average $2,550, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $12,250 in student loans. Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $47,964 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,250 median debt.
Mesa Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd schools. Set in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Typical student debt for mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd graduates is $13,750. Soon after graduation, mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd degree recipients from Mesa Community College generally make around $54,730. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Texas State Technical College landed the #7 spot for mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd value this year. Texas State Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Waco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,212, compared with $11,812 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd graduates is $13,500. Soon after graduation, mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd degree recipients from Texas State Technical College generally make around $43,742. That is a strong return on a $13,500 median debt.
Narrow Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD Schools by State
More Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD Rankings
View All Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD Rankings >
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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
