2026 Best Value Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the drafting & design engineering technology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools
Leading the list is Cerritos College, our #1 best value for drafting & design engineering technology in California. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. Students borrow a median of $11,306 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $29,495 early in their careers. Set against $11,306 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Fresno City College one of the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. That is a strong return on a $7,234 median debt.
College Of The Canyons came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value drafting & design engineering technology schools. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. Students from in state pay about $1,166 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,958. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $51,913. Set against $9,776 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Norco College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value drafting & design engineering technology schools. Located in the suburb of Norco, Norco College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,428, compared with $12,498 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $8,203. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,206 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $8,203 median debt.
Pasadena City College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value drafting & design engineering technology schools. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, compared with $10,924 for out-of-state students. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $38,841 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Golden West College placed #6 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Golden West College is a large public school located in the suburb of Huntington Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,380, compared with $11,628 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $21,500. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Golden West College earn a median of $82,984 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt.
Santa Ana College ranked #7 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, compared with $10,756 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $11,196. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $39,633. Set against $11,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Citrus College placed #8 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Citrus College is a large public school located in the suburb of Glendora. Students from in state pay about $1,204 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,636 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $42,065 ten years out.
Victor Valley College earned the #9 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Victor Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Victorville. Students from in state pay about $1,425 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,125 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $7,995. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Victor Valley College earn a median of $37,755 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Butte College placed #10 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Located in the rural area of Oroville, Butte College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,356 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,276. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $13,302 in student loans. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Butte College earn a median of $67,048 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sierra College placed #11 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Sierra College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rocklin. In-state tuition and fees average $1,446. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $12,733. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Sierra College earn a median of $29,214 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Allan Hancock College came in at #12 for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Set in the city of Santa Maria, Allan Hancock College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,156, with out-of-state students paying around $9,892. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,786 ten years after entry.
Palomar College came in at #13 for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,354, with out-of-state students paying around $10,650. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,300 ten years after entry.
Miracosta College came in at #14 for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Set in the suburb of Oceanside, Miracosta College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,158 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,750. Median earnings reach $43,845 ten years out.
Fullerton College earned the #15 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, Fullerton College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,151, compared with $12,379 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,366 ten years after entry.
San Joaquin Delta College came in at #16 for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Located in the city of Stockton, San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $9,772. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $6,382 in student loans. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of San Joaquin Delta College earn a median of $65,168 early in their careers. Set against $6,382 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
East Los Angeles College placed #17 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. East Los Angeles College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Monterey Park. Students from in state pay about $1,238 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,572. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $8,180 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from East Los Angeles College generally make around $33,595. That is a strong return on a $8,180 median debt.
Rio Hondo College earned the #18 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Located in the rural area of Whittier, Rio Hondo College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,388 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,884 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $15,510. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $95,666. That is a strong return on a $15,510 median debt.
Cabrillo College earned the #19 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Cabrillo College is a large public school located in the suburb of Aptos. Students from in state pay about $1,270 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,862. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $10,425. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Cabrillo College generally make around $47,750. Set against $10,425 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The Fab School earned the #20 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Located in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga, The Fab School is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $4,449. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of The Fab School earn a median of $39,592 early in their careers.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 63 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong drafting & design engineering technology education at a price that pays off.
