2027 Best Value Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD](/majors/engineering-technologies/drafting-design-engineering-technology/mechanical-drafting-and-mechanical-drafting-cad-cadd/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 8 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd schools.
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2027 Best Value Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD Schools
Our analysis ranked Northeast Community College the best value for a degree in mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd in the The Plains States Region. Located in the town of Norfolk, Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,840 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,130 for out-of-state students. Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $11,937 in student loans. Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd graduates of Northeast Community College earn a median of $40,568 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,937 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wichita Area Technical College earned it the #2 place for mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita Area Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,237. Typical student debt for mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd graduates is $15,252. Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd graduates of Wichita Area Technical College earn a median of $46,949 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,252 median debt.
St Cloud Technical And Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, St Cloud Technical And Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,124 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $11,500 to complete the mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd program here. Early-career mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd graduates make about $45,565. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Hennepin Technical College one of the best values for mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd. Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. Students from in state pay about $5,940 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd graduates is $20,250. Early-career mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd graduates make about $52,059. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Kirkwood Community College one of the best values for mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd. Set in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,176, with out-of-state students paying around $8,220. Typical student debt for mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd graduates is $15,779. Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd graduates of Kirkwood Community College earn a median of $41,681 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Des Moines Area Community College landed the #6 spot for mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd value this year. Set in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,790, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $12,984 in student loans. Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $44,886 early in their careers. Set against $12,984 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minnesota State Community And Technical College came in at #7 for value in mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd this year. Set in the rural area of Fergus Falls, Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,908. Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $12,513 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd degree recipients from Minnesota State Community And Technical College generally make around $44,988. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Anoka Technical College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd schools. Located in the suburb of Anoka, Anoka Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,267. Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $14,697 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechanical drafting & mechanical drafting cad/cadd degree recipients from Anoka Technical College generally make around $44,529. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
