2027 Best Value Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools in Texas
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 25 schools to find the best return on investment for drafting & design engineering technology students.
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2027 Best Value Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools in Texas
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
El Centro College tops our 2027 list of the best value drafting & design engineering technology schools in Texas. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,730, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $41,295. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Texas College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value drafting & design engineering technology schools. Set in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,920, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $6,868 in student loans. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $30,227. That is a strong return on a $6,868 median debt.
Lamar State College Port Arthur came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value drafting & design engineering technology schools. Lamar State College Port Arthur is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Port Arthur. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,770, with out-of-state students paying around $8,070. Students borrow a median of $33,385 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $78,580. That is a strong return on a $33,385 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Del Mar College earned it the #4 place for drafting & design engineering technology. Del Mar College is a large public school located in the city of Corpus Christi. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,500, 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. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $40,661. Set against $7,476 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Paso 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 city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,274 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,314 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $8,542. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $29,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Midland College placed #6 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Midland College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Midland. Students from in state pay about $3,180 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,180. Students borrow a median of $9,000 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Midland College generally make around $43,454. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Amarillo College landed the #7 spot for drafting & design engineering technology value this year. Amarillo College is a large public school located in the city of Amarillo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,136, compared with $4,704 for out-of-state students. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $15,720 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Amarillo College generally make around $41,053. Set against $15,720 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Brazosport College came in at #8 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, compared with $4,711 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $6,625. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Brazosport College earn a median of $32,746 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,625 median debt.
Wharton County Junior College landed the #9 spot for drafting & design engineering technology value this year. Located in the town of Wharton, Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,192, compared with $5,904 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $10,916. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $40,554. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Houston Community College came in at #10 for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,040, compared with $5,460 for out-of-state students. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $12,040 in student loans. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Houston Community College earn a median of $45,548 early in their careers. Set against $12,040 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mclennan Community College placed #11 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Set in the city of Waco, Mclennan Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, compared with $5,910 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,598 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $40,499. Set against $11,598 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Austin Community College District landed the #12 spot for drafting & design engineering technology value this year. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,550, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $12,250. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Austin Community College District generally make around $47,964. That is a strong return on a $12,250 median debt.
Grayson College earned the #13 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Located in the rural area of Denison, Grayson College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,000 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,300 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,627 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $42,487. That is a strong return on a $11,627 median debt.
Laredo Community College placed #14 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Located in the city of Laredo, Laredo Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,300, compared with $5,748 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $6,000. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Laredo Community College generally make around $41,354. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lee College placed #15 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Located in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,520, compared with $5,045 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,941 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Lee College earn a median of $53,448 early in their careers. Set against $10,941 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Central Texas College came in at #16 for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. North Central Texas College is a large public school located in the town of Gainesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,600, with out-of-state students paying around $5,739. Students borrow a median of $15,965 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from North Central Texas College generally make around $43,536. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Plains College earned the #17 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Located in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,733, compared with $5,157 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $13,788. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of South Plains College earn a median of $30,949 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Paris Junior College earned the #18 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Located in the town of Paris, Paris Junior College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,700, compared with $5,700 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $8,846. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Paris Junior College earn a median of $38,811 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,846 median debt.
Alvin Community College earned the #19 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Located in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,906, with out-of-state students paying around $4,402. Students borrow a median of $8,600 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Alvin Community College earn a median of $55,057 early in their careers. Set against $8,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Collin County Community College District placed #20 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Collin County Community College District is a very large public school located in the suburb of McKinney. Students from in state pay about $2,014 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,064. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $9,716. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $42,177. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tyler Junior College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value drafting & design engineering technology schools. Set in the city of Tyler, Tyler Junior College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,424 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,536. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $14,869 in student loans. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Tyler Junior College earn a median of $43,348 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Jacinto Community College landed the #22 spot for drafting & design engineering technology value this year. Set in the city of Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,490, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $11,376. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from San Jacinto Community College generally make around $38,107. Set against $11,376 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Texas State Technical College earned the #23 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Texas State Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Waco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,212, with out-of-state students paying around $11,812. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $13,500 in student loans. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $43,742. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lamar Institute Of Technology placed #24 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Set in the city of Beaumont, Lamar Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,844 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,924. Students borrow a median of $14,278 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $50,068. That is a strong return on a $14,278 median debt.
Sam Houston State University landed the #25 spot for drafting & design engineering technology value this year. Sam Houston State University is a very large public school located in the town of Huntsville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,228, while out-of-state students pay about $19,068. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $24,850. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Sam Houston State University generally make around $46,365. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
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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 · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 25 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.
