[Drafting & Design Engineering Technology](/majors/engineering-technologies/drafting-design-engineering-technology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 224 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value drafting & design engineering technology schools.
Finding the Best Value Drafting & Design Engineering Technology School for You
The drafting & design engineering technology program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. To help, we created our Best Value Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Macomb Community College earned the #1 spot for value among drafting & design engineering technology schools in the United States. Macomb Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Warren. In-state tuition and fees average $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Students borrow a median of $8,296 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Macomb Community College generally make around $44,701. That is a strong return on a $8,296 median debt.
Joliet Junior College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in drafting & design engineering technology, landing the #2 spot this year. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. In-state tuition and fees average $4,530, while out-of-state students pay about $13,800. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $11,995 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $40,118. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
El Centro College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in drafting & design engineering technology, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,730 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $11,000. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $41,295 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in drafting & design engineering technology will find it at Illinois Valley Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the town of Oglesby, Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,200, compared with $16,385 for out-of-state students. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $8,099 in student loans. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Illinois Valley Community College earn a median of $33,224 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
George C Wallace State Community College Dothan is a great value for students pursuing a degree in drafting & design engineering technology, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Dothan, George C Wallace State Community College Dothan is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,980, while out-of-state students pay about $8,850. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $9,942. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $34,762. That is a strong return on a $9,942 median debt.
Santa Ana College came in at #6 for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Located in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,756. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $11,196. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $39,633. That is a strong return on a $11,196 median debt.
Hillsborough Community College landed the #7 spot for drafting & design engineering technology value this year. Located in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,491, compared with $9,088 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $14,000. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Hillsborough Community College earn a median of $44,101 early in their careers. Set against $14,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lewis And Clark Community College came in at #8 for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Set in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,340, compared with $7,840 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,602 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $41,313. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Petersburg College placed #9 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Set in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,682, with out-of-state students paying around $9,286. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $24,385 in student loans. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $48,218. That is a strong return on a $24,385 median debt.
Cerritos College placed #10 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Located in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,004. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $11,306. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $29,495 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,306 median debt.
Trident Technical College placed #11 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Located in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,546, while out-of-state students pay about $8,620. Students borrow a median of $18,116 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Trident Technical College earn a median of $50,166 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Del Mar College came in at #12 for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Set in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,500 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,050 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,476 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Del Mar College generally make around $40,661. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Henry Ford Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value drafting & design engineering technology schools. Henry Ford Community College is a large public school located in the city of Dearborn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,568, while out-of-state students pay about $7,816. Students borrow a median of $18,876 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $36,247. That is a strong return on a $18,876 median debt.
Pasadena City College came in at #14 for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,924. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $38,841. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Queensborough Community College came in at #15 for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Located in the city of Bayside, Cuny Queensborough Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,210, compared with $8,090 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,052 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Cuny Queensborough Community College generally make around $23,674. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Triton College came in at #16 for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Located in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,070, with out-of-state students paying around $15,330. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $12,994 in student loans. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Triton College earn a median of $43,278 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,994 median debt.
Brazosport College came in at #17 for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Brazosport College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Lake Jackson. In-state tuition and fees average $2,388, while out-of-state students pay about $4,711. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $6,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Brazosport College generally make around $32,746. That is a strong return on a $6,625 median debt.
Cuny New York City College Of Technology earned the #18 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,332, with out-of-state students paying around $15,282. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $11,492 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Cuny New York City College Of Technology generally make around $44,323. That is a strong return on a $11,492 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Midland College placed #19 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Located in the city of Midland, Midland College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,180, compared with $6,180 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $9,000. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $43,454. That is a strong return on a $9,000 median debt.
Chattahoochee Technical College earned the #20 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Located in the suburb of Marietta, Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,540, with out-of-state students paying around $6,108. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $9,616. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $44,673. Set against $9,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southern Regional Technical College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value drafting & design engineering technology schools. Located in the town of Thomasville, Southern Regional Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,007, compared with $5,575 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $9,086. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $44,007. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Canyons ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value drafting & design engineering technology schools. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,166 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $51,913. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Midlands Technical College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value drafting & design engineering technology schools. Midlands Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of West Columbia. Students from in state pay about $5,100 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,700 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $17,611. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Midlands Technical College earn a median of $39,610 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Texas College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value drafting & design engineering technology schools. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,920, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $6,868. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from South Texas College generally make around $30,227. Set against $6,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lamar State College Port Arthur earned the #25 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Set in the city of Port Arthur, Lamar State College Port Arthur is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,770, with out-of-state students paying around $8,070. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $33,385. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Lamar State College Port Arthur generally make around $78,580. That is a strong return on a $33,385 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s drafting & design engineering technology value ranking:
The ranking above is published 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 · 224 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 224 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).
[Drafting & Design Engineering Technology](/majors/engineering-technologies/drafting-design-engineering-technology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
