by our College Data Analytics Team
[Drafting Design Engineering Technology](/majors/engineering-technologies/drafting-design-engineering-technology/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find where drafting design engineering technology graduates earn the most.
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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 Minneapolis Community And Technical College, our #1 for drafting design engineering technology graduate salaries in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, drafting design engineering technology degree recipients from Minneapolis Community And Technical College typically earn about $60,988 annually.
Anoka Technical College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drafting design engineering technology schools. Set in the suburb of Anoka, Anoka Technical College is a public institution. Drafting Design Engineering Technology graduates of Anoka Technical College earn a median of about $66,696 a year early in their careers.
Dunwoody College Of Technology came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drafting design engineering technology schools. Dunwoody College Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. After graduating, drafting design engineering technology degree recipients from Dunwoody College Of Technology typically earn about $75,599 annually.
Northland Community And Technical College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drafting design engineering technology schools. Located in the town of Thief River Falls, Northland Community And Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, drafting design engineering technology degree recipients from Northland Community And Technical College typically earn about $50,573 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in drafting design engineering technology will find them at Central Community College, which ranked #5. Central Community College is a public school located in the city of Grand Island. After graduating, drafting design engineering technology degree recipients from Central Community College typically earn about $52,261 annually.
Hennepin Technical College earned the #6 position for drafting design engineering technology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the drafting design engineering technology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,219.
University Of Central Missouri landed the #7 spot for drafting design engineering technology salaries this year. Located in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a public institution. Drafting Design Engineering Technology graduates of University Of Central Missouri earn a median of about $72,672 a year early in their careers.
Ozarks Technical Community College came in at #8 for drafting design engineering technology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a public institution. Early-career drafting design engineering technology graduates from Ozarks Technical Community College make a median of around $47,098 per year.
Linn State Technical College came in at #9 for drafting design engineering technology graduate earnings this year. Located in the rural area of Linn, Linn State Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, drafting design engineering technology degree recipients from Linn State Technical College typically earn about $48,101 annually.
Southeast Community College Area ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drafting design engineering technology schools. Set in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area is a public institution. After graduating, drafting design engineering technology degree recipients from Southeast Community College Area typically earn about $56,867 annually.
Wichita Area Technical College earned the #11 position for drafting design engineering technology graduate earnings this year. Wichita Area Technical College is a public school located in the city of Wichita. Early-career drafting design engineering technology graduates from Wichita Area Technical College make a median of around $46,949 per year.
St Cloud Technical And Community College earned the #12 position for drafting design engineering technology graduate earnings this year. St Cloud Technical And Community College is a public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. Drafting Design Engineering Technology graduates of St Cloud Technical And Community College earn a median of about $48,228 a year early in their careers.
Minnesota State Community And Technical College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drafting design engineering technology schools. Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a public school located in the rural area of Fergus Falls. After graduating, drafting design engineering technology degree recipients from Minnesota State Community And Technical College typically earn about $44,988 annually.
Des Moines Area Community College landed the #14 spot for drafting design engineering technology salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a public institution. Drafting Design Engineering Technology graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of about $44,886 a year early in their careers.
This list is compiled 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 · 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.