2026 Best Value Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools in Michigan
[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 28 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for drafting & design engineering technology students.
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2026 Best Value Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools in Michigan
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 Henry Ford Community College this year. Set in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,568, compared with $7,816 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $18,876. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Henry Ford Community College generally make around $36,247. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value drafting & design engineering technology schools. Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kalamazoo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,144, with out-of-state students paying around $9,094. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $44,198. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oakland Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in drafting & design engineering technology, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,120, while out-of-state students pay about $5,560. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $45,844. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Macomb Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in drafting & design engineering technology, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. 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.
A rank of #5 makes Grand Rapids Community College one of the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,179, while out-of-state students pay about $12,219. Students borrow a median of $11,748 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Grand Rapids Community College generally make around $49,865. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Michigan University landed the #6 spot for drafting & design engineering technology value this year. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Students from in state pay about $15,987 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $60,153. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
College For Creative Studies earned the #7 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Set in the city of Detroit, College For Creative Studies is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,350. Students borrow a median of $27,655 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from College For Creative Studies generally make around $26,638. That is a strong return on a $27,655 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
More Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Rankings
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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 · 28 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
