by our College Data Analytics Team
[Drafting Design Engineering Technology](/majors/engineering-technologies/drafting-design-engineering-technology/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The highest-paying schools turn a drafting design engineering technology degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 10 schools on the early-career earnings of their drafting design engineering technology graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose drafting design engineering technology graduates go on to earn the most.
Weber State University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying drafting design engineering technology schools in the United States. Located in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a public institution. After graduating, drafting design engineering technology degree recipients from Weber State University typically earn about $81,431 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Trine University earned it the #2 place for drafting design engineering technology. Trine University is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Angola. Students who complete the drafting design engineering technology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $81,146.
Western Michigan University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drafting design engineering technology schools. Western Michigan University is a public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Early-career drafting design engineering technology graduates from Western Michigan University make a median of around $80,748 per year.
A rank of #4 makes East Carolina University one of the highest-paying schools for drafting design engineering technology. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a public institution. Early-career drafting design engineering technology graduates from East Carolina University make a median of around $66,267 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in drafting design engineering technology will find them at University Of Central Missouri, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a public institution. After graduating, drafting design engineering technology degree recipients from University Of Central Missouri typically earn about $72,672 annually.
Central Michigan University landed the #6 spot for drafting design engineering technology salaries this year. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a public institution. Early-career drafting design engineering technology graduates from Central Michigan University make a median of around $63,862 per year.
Pennsylvania College Of Technology ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drafting design engineering technology schools. Set in the city of Williamsport, Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a public institution. Drafting Design Engineering Technology graduates of Pennsylvania College Of Technology earn a median of about $57,854 a year early in their careers.
Murray State University came in at #8 for drafting design engineering technology graduate earnings this year. Murray State University is a public school located in the town of Murray. Early-career drafting design engineering technology graduates from Murray State University make a median of around $48,363 per year.
Academy Of Art University came in at #9 for drafting design engineering technology graduate earnings this year. Academy Of Art University is a private for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. Drafting Design Engineering Technology graduates of Academy Of Art University earn a median of about $48,978 a year early in their careers.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned the #10 position for drafting design engineering technology graduate earnings this year. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Drafting Design Engineering Technology graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of about $52,824 a year early in their careers.
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Drafting Design Engineering Technology rankings across degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their drafting design engineering technology graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 10 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.