2027 Best Value Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Drafting & Design Engineering Technology](/majors/engineering-technologies/drafting-design-engineering-technology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. 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 23 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 the The Plains States Region
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 Metropolitan Community College Area, our #1 best value for drafting & design engineering technology in the The Plains States Region. 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.
A rank of #2 makes Ozarks Technical Community College one of the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Set in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,256, compared with $7,040 for out-of-state students. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $15,866 in student loans. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $36,644. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Charles Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in drafting & design engineering technology, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Cottleville, St Charles Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,810 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $12,606 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from St Charles Community College generally make around $47,228. That is a strong return on a $12,606 median debt.
Central Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in drafting & design engineering technology, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Grand Island, Central Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,360, compared with $4,800 for out-of-state students. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $10,277 in student loans. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $43,218. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Northeast Community College one of the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Set in the town of Norfolk, Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,840 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,130. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $11,937. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $40,568. That is a strong return on a $11,937 median debt.
Metropolitan Community College Kansas City came in at #6 for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,630, with out-of-state students paying around $9,600. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $12,281 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Metropolitan Community College Kansas City generally make around $46,660. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Washburn Institute Of Technology earned the #7 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Located in the city of Topeka, Washburn Institute Of Technology is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,880. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $11,362. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Washburn Institute Of Technology generally make around $39,749. Set against $11,362 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wichita Area Technical College earned the #8 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita Area Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,237 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $15,252 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $46,949. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeast Community College Area earned the #9 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,444, with out-of-state students paying around $4,032. Students borrow a median of $16,437 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Southeast Community College Area earn a median of $41,599 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Cloud Technical And Community College came in at #10 for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, St Cloud Technical And Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,124. Students borrow a median of $11,500 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $45,565. Set against $11,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hennepin Technical College earned the #11 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,940. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $49,539. Set against $20,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ridgewater College came in at #12 for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Set in the town of Willmar, Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,121 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $15,556 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Ridgewater College earn a median of $42,178 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,556 median debt.
Kirkwood Community College earned the #13 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Set in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,176 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,220. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $15,779. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Kirkwood Community College generally make around $41,681. Set against $15,779 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Des Moines Area Community College earned the #14 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Set in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,790, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,984 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $44,886. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Minnesota State Community And Technical College landed the #15 spot for drafting & design engineering technology value this year. Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Fergus Falls. In-state tuition and fees average $5,908. Students borrow a median of $12,513 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Minnesota State Community And Technical College earn a median of $44,988 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value drafting & design engineering technology schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,161. Students borrow a median of $24,036 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Minneapolis Community And Technical College earn a median of $43,164 early in their careers. Set against $24,036 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northland Community And Technical College placed #17 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Northland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Thief River Falls. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,289. Students borrow a median of $18,550 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Northland Community And Technical College generally make around $46,528. Set against $18,550 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Johnson County Community College placed #18 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Set in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,424, compared with $5,688 for out-of-state students. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $13,532 in student loans. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $46,473. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Central Missouri earned the #19 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Located in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,050, compared with $18,600 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,861 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of University Of Central Missouri earn a median of $60,774 early in their careers. Set against $21,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Linn State Technical College earned the #20 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Located in the rural area of Linn, Linn State Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,160, compared with $14,610 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,350 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Linn State Technical College generally make around $49,789. Set against $11,350 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minnesota State College Southeast Technical ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value drafting & design engineering technology schools. Set in the town of Winona, Minnesota State College Southeast Technical is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,432. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $22,522. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Minnesota State College Southeast Technical generally make around $50,290. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Anoka Technical College landed the #22 spot for drafting & design engineering technology value this year. Located in the suburb of Anoka, Anoka Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,267 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $14,697 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $44,529. That is a strong return on a $14,697 median debt.
Dunwoody College Of Technology placed #23 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Dunwoody College Of Technology is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $27,477 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $20,625. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Dunwoody College Of Technology generally make around $55,512. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Dunwoody College Of Technology admits about 99% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 23 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.
