College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Best Value Design Engineering Tech Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

16 Ranked Colleges
875 Degrees Awarded
$10,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Design Engineering Tech Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Design Engineering Tech Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 8,964 people earned their degree in drafting and design engineering technology, making the major the 151st most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, drafting and design engineering technology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $43,263 and had an average of $17,275 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 875 drafting and design engineering technology graduates with average earnings and debt of $41,264 and $16,305 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Design Engineering Tech Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 16 colleges that offered a degree in drafting and design engineering technology. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great drafting and design engineering technology programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the drafting and design engineering technology program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Design Engineering Tech Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Design Engineering Tech Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Design Engineering Tech Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region design engineering tech students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 16 Best Value Colleges for Drafting & Design Engineering Technology (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northeast Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Design Engineering Tech Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northeast Community College is a public institution located in Norfolk, Nebraska. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 45 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Northeast did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northeast is $6,320 for Plains States Region Design Engineering Tech students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Northeast Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Report

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend St Cloud Technical and Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Design Engineering Tech Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, and it awarded 26 ’s design engineering tech degrees in 2020-2021.

St Cloud Technical and Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for St Cloud Technical and Community College is $7,459 for Plains States Region Design Engineering Tech students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full St Cloud Technical and Community College Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Report

3
Hennepin Technical College crest
Hennepin Technical College
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Hennepin Technical College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Design Engineering Tech Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Brooklyn Park, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design engineering tech degrees to 91 students in 2020-2021.

Hennepin Technical College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Hennepin Technical College is $9,462 for plains states region design engineering tech students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Hennepin Technical College Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Report

4
Ridgewater College crest
Ridgewater College
Willmar, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ridgewater College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Design Engineering Tech Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Ridgewater College is a small public school situated in Willmar, Minnesota. It awarded 20 ’s design engineering tech degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ridgewater College, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ridgewater College is $9,554 for plains states region design engineering tech students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Drafting & Design Engineering Technology at Ridgewater College

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southeast Community College Area. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Design Engineering Tech Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Lincoln, Nebraska is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design engineering tech degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.

Southeast Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Southeast Community College is $4,293 for plains states region design engineering tech students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Southeast Community College Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Report

6

Dakota County Technical College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Engineering Tech Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. DCTC is a public institution located in Rosemount, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

DCTC also made our “Best Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for DCTC is $8,511 for Plains States Region Design Engineering Tech students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full DCTC Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Report

7
Central Community College crest
Central Community College
Grand Island, Nebraska

Central Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Engineering Tech Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Central Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Grand Island, Nebraska. It awarded 63 ’s design engineering tech degrees in 2020-2021.

Central Community College also took the #14 spot in our “Best Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Central Community College is $6,498 for Plains States Region Design Engineering Tech students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Central Community College Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Report

8

With a ranking of #8, Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Design Engineering Tech Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wichita, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design engineering tech degrees to 77 students in 2020-2021.

WSU Tech also took the #7 spot in our “Best Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,305 for Plains States Region Design Engineering Tech students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend WSU Tech.

Read more about Drafting & Design Engineering Technology at WSU Tech

9
UCM crest
University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, Missouri

University of Central Missouri did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Engineering Tech Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Warrensburg, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design engineering tech degrees to 20 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region design engineering tech students whose families make $0-$30k list, UCM has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Central Missouri is $11,006 for Plains States Region Design Engineering Tech students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Drafting & Design Engineering Technology at University of Central Missouri

10
Anoka Technical College crest
Anoka Technical College
Anoka, Minnesota

Anoka Technical College landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Engineering Tech Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Anoka Technical College is located in Anoka, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 41 ’s design engineering tech degrees to qualified students.

Anoka Technical College also made our “Best Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for Anoka Technical College is $10,961 for Plains States Region Design Engineering Tech students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Drafting & Design Engineering Technology at Anoka Technical College

11
Kirkwood Community College crest
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Kirkwood Community College landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Engineering Tech Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Kirkwood Community College is a fairly large school located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that handed out 17 ’s design engineering tech degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region design engineering tech students whose families make $0-$30k list, Kirkwood Community College has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Kirkwood Community College is $7,182 for Plains States Region Design Engineering Tech students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Drafting & Design Engineering Technology at Kirkwood Community College

12

Des Moines Area Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Design Engineering Tech Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Des Moines Area Community College is a large public school situated in Ankeny, Iowa. It awarded 28 ’s design engineering tech degrees in 2020-2021.

DMACC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Des Moines Area Community College is $8,177 for Plains States Region Design Engineering Tech students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Drafting & Design Engineering Technology at DMACC

13

State Technical College of Missouri landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Engineering Tech Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. STC is a public institution located in Linn, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at STC, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for STC is $9,273 for Plains States Region Design Engineering Tech students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full State Technical College of Missouri Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Report

14
Southeast Tech crest
Southeast Technical College
Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Southeast Technical College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Design Engineering Tech Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Southeast Technical College is a small public school situated in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It awarded 9 ’s design engineering tech degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Southeast Tech, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,254 for plains states region design engineering tech students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Southeast Technical College.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Southeast Technical College Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Report

15
Dunwoody College of Technology crest
Dunwoody College of Technology
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Dunwoody College of Technology did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Design Engineering Tech Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Dunwoody College of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Dunwoody College of Technology also made our “Best Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend Dunwoody College of Technology is $24,540 for Plains States Region Design Engineering Tech students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Drafting & Design Engineering Technology at Dunwoody College of Technology

16
Western Dakota Tech crest
Western Dakota Technical Institute
Rapid City, South Dakota

Western Dakota Technical Institute ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Design Engineering Tech Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Western Dakota Technical Institute is a public institution located in Rapid City, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Western Dakota Tech also took the #16 spot in our “Best Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Western Dakota Tech is $12,732 for Plains States Region Design Engineering Tech students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Western Dakota Technical Institute Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Report

Switch to a Similar Major

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options