2027 Best Value Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Drafting & Design Engineering Technology](/majors/engineering-technologies/drafting-design-engineering-technology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value drafting & design engineering technology schools.
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2027 Best Value Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
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
Leading the list is Cuny New York City College Of Technology, our #1 best value for drafting & design engineering technology in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,332 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $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. Set against $11,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Queensborough Community College earned it the #2 place for drafting & design engineering technology. Set in the city of Bayside, Cuny Queensborough Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,210, compared with $8,090 for out-of-state students. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $10,052 in student loans. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $23,674. That is a strong return on a $10,052 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Suffolk County Community College one of the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,630 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,460. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $11,246. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $35,667. Set against $11,246 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in drafting & design engineering technology will find it at Montgomery College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Rockville, Montgomery College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,394, while out-of-state students pay about $14,250. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $11,230. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Montgomery College earn a median of $24,833 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,230 median debt.
Niagara County Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in drafting & design engineering technology, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Sanborn, Niagara County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,894 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,030 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $13,970. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Niagara County Community College generally make around $36,258. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harford Community College placed #6 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Harford Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Bel Air. Students from in state pay about $4,032 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,832. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $12,624 in student loans. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $50,636. Set against $12,624 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Delaware Technical Community College Terry placed #7 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Located in the city of Dover, Delaware Technical Community College Terry is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,332 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,763 for out-of-state students. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $11,154 in student loans. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Delaware Technical Community College Terry earn a median of $43,322 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology earned the #8 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology is a small public school located in the city of Lancaster. In-state tuition and fees average $9,050. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $36,002. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Anne Arundel Community College earned the #9 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Anne Arundel Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Arnold. In-state tuition and fees average $4,322, with out-of-state students paying around $11,522. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $13,947. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $59,894. That is a strong return on a $13,947 median debt.
Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg came in at #10 for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Set in the city of Harrisburg, Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,975, compared with $12,472 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,867 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg generally make around $41,382. That is a strong return on a $20,867 median debt.
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi placed #11 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Set in the rural area of Delhi, Suny College Of Technology At Delhi is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,772, while out-of-state students pay about $12,762. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $20,303. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $48,647. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Yti Career Institute York landed the #12 spot for drafting & design engineering technology value this year. Located in the suburb of York, Yti Career Institute York is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $14,865 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Yti Career Institute York generally make around $45,684. That is a strong return on a $14,865 median debt.
Pennsylvania College Of Technology earned the #13 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Williamsport. Students from in state pay about $17,940 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,680. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $21,744. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Pennsylvania College Of Technology earn a median of $51,338 early in their careers. Set against $21,744 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Penn Commercial Business Technical School earned the #14 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Penn Commercial Business Technical School is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Washington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,654. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $12,067. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Penn Commercial Business Technical School earn a median of $31,866 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Penn Commercial Business Technical School admits about 56% of applicants.
Carnegie Mellon University came in at #15 for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,636. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $89,327. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Drexel University came in at #16 for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $62,412. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $28,838 in student loans. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $67,556. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
