by our College Data Analytics Team
[Drafting Design Engineering Technology](/majors/engineering-technologies/drafting-design-engineering-technology/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a drafting design engineering technology degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying drafting design engineering technology schools.
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If you want to know which schools send drafting design engineering technology graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Leading the list is Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, our #1 for drafting design engineering technology graduate salaries in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, drafting design engineering technology degree recipients from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College typically earn about $62,151 annually.
Trine University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in drafting design engineering technology, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Angola, Trine University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, drafting design engineering technology degree recipients from Trine University typically earn about $81,146 annually.
A rank of #3 makes Northcentral Technical College one of the highest-paying schools for drafting design engineering technology. Located in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, drafting design engineering technology degree recipients from Northcentral Technical College typically earn about $61,635 annually.
Ivy Tech Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drafting design engineering technology schools. Ivy Tech Community College is a public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Students who complete the drafting design engineering technology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,237.
Western Michigan University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in drafting design engineering technology, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a public institution. Students who complete the drafting design engineering technology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $80,748.
Vincennes University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drafting design engineering technology schools. Located in the town of Vincennes, Vincennes University is a public institution. Early-career drafting design engineering technology graduates from Vincennes University make a median of around $53,640 per year.
Waukesha County Technical College landed the #7 spot for drafting design engineering technology salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, drafting design engineering technology degree recipients from Waukesha County Technical College typically earn about $59,960 annually.
Mott Community College came in at #8 for drafting design engineering technology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Flint, Mott Community College is a public institution. Early-career drafting design engineering technology graduates from Mott Community College make a median of around $58,863 per year.
Grand Rapids Community College placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for drafting design engineering technology. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community College is a public institution. After graduating, drafting design engineering technology degree recipients from Grand Rapids Community College typically earn about $49,865 annually.
Fox Valley Technical College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drafting design engineering technology schools. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a public institution. Drafting Design Engineering Technology graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of about $57,129 a year early in their careers.
Central Michigan University came in at #11 for drafting design engineering technology graduate earnings this year. Central Michigan University is a public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. Drafting Design Engineering Technology graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of about $63,862 a year early in their careers.
Oakland Community College earned the #12 position for drafting design engineering technology graduate earnings this year. Oakland Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Auburn Hills. Drafting Design Engineering Technology graduates of Oakland Community College earn a median of about $45,844 a year early in their careers.
Macomb Community College placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for drafting design engineering technology. Located in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the drafting design engineering technology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $44,701.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for drafting design engineering technology. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public institution. Drafting Design Engineering Technology graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of about $52,824 a year early in their careers.
This ranking is produced 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 · 14 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.