2026 Best Value Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in drafting & design engineering technology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools
For return on investment in drafting & design engineering technology, no school beat Georgia Northwestern Technical College this year. Set in the city of Rome, Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,300, while out-of-state students pay about $5,868. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $8,492 in student loans. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $41,229. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes College Of The Canyons one of the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,166, compared with $10,958 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $9,776. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $51,913. Set against $9,776 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Centro College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value drafting & design engineering technology schools. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $41,295. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fresno City College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value drafting & design engineering technology schools. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,378, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $7,234. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Fresno City College earn a median of $37,470 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Ana College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value drafting & design engineering technology schools. Set in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,756. Students borrow a median of $11,196 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $39,633. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Metropolitan Community College Area landed the #6 spot for drafting & design engineering technology value this year. Located in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,375 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,950. Students borrow a median of $12,799 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $45,583. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Queensborough Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value drafting & design engineering technology schools. Cuny Queensborough Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bayside. Students from in state pay about $5,210 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,090. Students borrow a median of $10,052 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Cuny Queensborough Community College earn a median of $23,674 early in their careers. Set against $10,052 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Alvin Community College came in at #8 for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Set in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,906, compared with $4,402 for out-of-state students. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $8,600 in student loans. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Alvin Community College earn a median of $55,057 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Texas College placed #9 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,920, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Students borrow a median of $6,868 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from South Texas College generally make around $30,227. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny New York City College Of Technology came in at #10 for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,332, with out-of-state students paying around $15,282. Students borrow a median of $11,492 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $44,323. That is a strong return on a $11,492 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Oakland Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value drafting & design engineering technology schools. Located in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,120, compared with $5,560 for out-of-state students. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Oakland Community College earn a median of $45,844 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,750 median debt.
Chattahoochee Technical College earned the #12 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Marietta. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,540, while out-of-state students pay about $6,108. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $9,616 in student loans. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Chattahoochee Technical College earn a median of $44,673 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,616 median debt.
Butte College landed the #13 spot for drafting & design engineering technology value this year. Butte College is a large public school located in the rural area of Oroville. In-state tuition and fees average $1,356, with out-of-state students paying around $9,276. Students borrow a median of $13,302 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Butte College generally make around $67,048. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value drafting & design engineering technology schools. Set in the suburb of Kirkland, Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,997, while out-of-state students pay about $12,062. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $19,695 in student loans. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Lake Washington Institute Of Technology earn a median of $60,000 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Palomar College landed the #15 spot for drafting & design engineering technology value this year. Palomar College is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Marcos. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,354, compared with $10,650 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,300 ten years after entry.
Sierra College came in at #16 for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Set in the suburb of Rocklin, Sierra College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,446. Students borrow a median of $12,733 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Sierra College generally make around $29,214. Set against $12,733 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central New Mexico Community College came in at #17 for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,060, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Students borrow a median of $10,112 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $34,751. Set against $10,112 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
New Mexico State University Dona Ana earned the #18 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Las Cruces. Students from in state pay about $2,322 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,360 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $10,284. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from New Mexico State University Dona Ana generally make around $39,399. That is a strong return on a $10,284 median debt.
Bevill State Community College earned the #19 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Bevill State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Jasper. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,734, with out-of-state students paying around $8,346. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $11,040 in student loans. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Bevill State Community College earn a median of $38,514 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Carolina Technical College landed the #20 spot for drafting & design engineering technology value this year. Set in the city of Sumter, Central Carolina Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,715, while out-of-state students pay about $9,016. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $15,750 in student loans. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $40,598. That is a strong return on a $15,750 median debt.
Macomb Community College placed #21 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Set in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,660, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,296 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $44,701. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Dupage landed the #22 spot for drafting & design engineering technology value this year. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $12,492 in student loans. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $43,025 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College landed the #23 spot for drafting & design engineering technology value this year. Located in the city of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $12,245 in student loans. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $45,486. That is a strong return on a $12,245 median debt.
Spokane Community College placed #24 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Located in the city of Spokane, Spokane Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,461 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,612 for out-of-state students. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $16,486 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Spokane Community College generally make around $39,679. That is a strong return on a $16,486 median debt.
The University Of Texas At Brownsville landed the #25 spot for drafting & design engineering technology value this year. The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public school located in the city of Brownsville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,148, while out-of-state students pay about $4,948. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $10,058 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Brownsville generally make around $30,343. That is a strong return on a $10,058 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for drafting & design engineering technology this year:
Other Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Degree Levels
Explore the best-value drafting & design engineering technology schools at other degree levels:
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 605 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 50 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.
[Drafting & Design Engineering Technology](/majors/engineering-technologies/drafting-design-engineering-technology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong drafting & design engineering technology education at a price that pays off.
