2026 Best Value Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools in Minnesota
[Drafting & Design Engineering Technology](/majors/engineering-technologies/drafting-design-engineering-technology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools to find the best return on investment for drafting & design engineering technology students.
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2026 Best Value Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools in Minnesota
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
Century College tops our 2026 list of the best value drafting & design engineering technology schools in Minnesota. Century College is a large public school located in the suburb of White Bear Lake. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,214. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $21,332. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Century College earn a median of $47,502 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hennepin Technical College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value drafting & design engineering technology schools. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,940. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Hennepin Technical College earn a median of $49,539 early in their careers. Set against $20,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ridgewater College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in drafting & design engineering technology, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of Willmar, Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,121 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $15,556. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Ridgewater College earn a median of $42,178 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at St Cloud Technical And Community College earned it the #4 place for drafting & design engineering technology. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, St Cloud Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,124. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $11,500 in student loans. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $45,565. Set against $11,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Anoka Technical College one of the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. 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. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $14,697 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Anoka Technical College generally make around $44,529. Set against $14,697 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College placed #6 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Students from in state pay about $6,161 in tuition and fees. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $24,036 in student loans. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Minneapolis Community And Technical College earn a median of $43,164 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Minnesota State College Southeast Technical ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value drafting & design engineering technology schools. Minnesota State College Southeast Technical is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Winona. Students from in state pay about $6,432 in tuition and fees. 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.
Dunwoody College Of Technology landed the #8 spot for drafting & design engineering technology value this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Dunwoody College Of Technology is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $27,477. Students borrow a median of $20,625 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Dunwoody College Of Technology generally make around $55,512. Set against $20,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
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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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
