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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the early-career earnings of their drafting design engineering technology graduates.
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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.
For graduate earnings in drafting design engineering technology, no school beat Delgado Community College this year. Delgado Community College is a public school located in the city of New Orleans. Drafting Design Engineering Technology graduates of Delgado Community College earn a median of about $56,136 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in drafting design engineering technology will find them at Eastern Florida State College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Melbourne, Eastern Florida State College is a public institution. Drafting Design Engineering Technology graduates of Eastern Florida State College earn a median of about $53,643 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes East Carolina University one of the highest-paying schools for drafting design engineering technology. East Carolina University is a public school located in the city of Greenville. Early-career drafting design engineering technology graduates from East Carolina University make a median of around $66,267 per year.
A rank of #4 makes Miami Dade College one of the highest-paying schools for drafting design engineering technology. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a public institution. Students who complete the drafting design engineering technology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $41,040.
Iti Technical College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drafting design engineering technology schools. Set in the suburb of Baton Rouge, Iti Technical College is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the drafting design engineering technology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,548.
Valencia College came in at #6 for drafting design engineering technology graduate earnings this year. Valencia College is a public school located in the city of Orlando. Students who complete the drafting design engineering technology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,701.
Murray State University placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for drafting design engineering technology. Murray State University is a public school located in the town of Murray. After graduating, drafting design engineering technology degree recipients from Murray State University typically earn about $48,363 annually.
Tidewater Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drafting design engineering technology schools. Tidewater Community College is a public school located in the city of Norfolk. After graduating, drafting design engineering technology degree recipients from Tidewater Community College typically earn about $41,114 annually.
L E Fletcher Technical Community College earned the #9 position for drafting design engineering technology graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Schriever, L E Fletcher Technical Community College is a public institution. After graduating, drafting design engineering technology degree recipients from L E Fletcher Technical Community College typically earn about $39,958 annually.
University Of Arkansas Fort Smith came in at #10 for drafting design engineering technology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Fort Smith, University Of Arkansas Fort Smith is a public institution. Early-career drafting design engineering technology graduates from University Of Arkansas Fort Smith make a median of around $38,059 per year.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College landed the #11 spot for drafting design engineering technology salaries this year. Set in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a public institution. Early-career drafting design engineering technology graduates from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College make a median of around $35,706 per year.
South Louisiana Community College landed the #12 spot for drafting design engineering technology salaries this year. Set in the city of Lafayette, South Louisiana Community College is a public institution. Drafting Design Engineering Technology graduates of South Louisiana Community College earn a median of about $34,056 a year early in their careers.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries drafting design engineering technology graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 12 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.