2026 Best Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools in the Southwest Region
Drafting & Design Engineering Technology degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 77 schools to find the best for drafting & design engineering technology students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Drafting & Design Engineering Technology in the Southwest Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the drafting & design engineering technology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Drafting & Design Engineering Technology
Our analysis ranked El Centro College the best school in the country for a degree in drafting & design engineering technology. This very large public university is located in the city of Dallas. About 133 drafting & design engineering technology degrees were awarded at El Centro College in the most recent year. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $41,295 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
Read more about the drafting & design engineering technology program at El Centro College
A rank of #2 makes Lee College one of the top schools for drafting & design engineering technology. This large public university is located in the city of Baytown. Lee College awarded about 118 drafting & design engineering technology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drafting & design engineering technology degree from Lee College earn around $53,448 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,941 to complete this degree.
See the full drafting & design engineering technology program report for Lee College
Brazosport College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best drafting & design engineering technology schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Lake Jackson. There were roughly 32 drafting & design engineering technology students who graduated with this degree at Brazosport College in the most recent data year. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Brazosport College earn a median of $32,746 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $6,625 to complete this degree.
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Lamar Institute Of Technology is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in drafting & design engineering technology, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Beaumont, Lamar Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. About 22 drafting & design engineering technology degrees were awarded at Lamar Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Lamar Institute Of Technology earn a median of $50,068 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,278 to complete this degree.
See the full drafting & design engineering technology program report for Lamar Institute Of Technology
Austin Community College District is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in drafting & design engineering technology, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. Austin Community College District awarded about 136 drafting & design engineering technology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drafting & design engineering technology degree from Austin Community College District earn around $47,964 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,250 to complete this degree.
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Mesa Community College came in at #6 for drafting & design engineering technology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Mesa. Mesa Community College awarded about 38 drafting & design engineering technology degrees in the most recent data year. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Mesa Community College earn a median of $54,730 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete this degree.
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Midland College placed #7 among the best drafting & design engineering technology schools. Located in the city of Midland, Midland College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 33 drafting & design engineering technology students who graduated with this degree at Midland College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drafting & design engineering technology program make about $43,454 in their early career. Midland College graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans.
See the full drafting & design engineering technology program report for Midland College
Alvin Community College landed the #8 spot for drafting & design engineering technology this year. Set in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Alvin Community College awarded about 32 drafting & design engineering technology degrees in the most recent data year. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Alvin Community College earn a median of $55,057 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $8,600 to complete this degree.
See the full drafting & design engineering technology program report for Alvin Community College
Texas State Technical College placed #9 among the best drafting & design engineering technology schools. Texas State Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Waco. There were roughly 26 drafting & design engineering technology students who graduated with this degree at Texas State Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drafting & design engineering technology degree from Texas State Technical College earn around $43,742 in the first couple years of their career. Texas State Technical College graduates carry a median of $13,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in drafting & design engineering technology from Texas State Technical College
San Jacinto Community College earned the #10 position for drafting & design engineering technology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Pasadena. About 208 drafting & design engineering technology degrees were awarded at San Jacinto Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from San Jacinto Community College generally make around $38,107. San Jacinto Community College graduates carry a median of $11,376 in student loans.
More information about a degree in drafting & design engineering technology from San Jacinto Community College
Collin County Community College District landed the #11 spot for drafting & design engineering technology this year. Located in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public university. There were roughly 31 drafting & design engineering technology students who graduated with this degree at Collin County Community College District in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drafting & design engineering technology degree from Collin County Community College District earn around $42,177 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,716.
See the full drafting & design engineering technology program report for Collin County Community College District
Del Mar College came in at #12 for drafting & design engineering technology this year. This large public university is located in the city of Corpus Christi. Del Mar College awarded about 55 drafting & design engineering technology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Del Mar College generally make around $40,661. Students borrow a median of $7,476 to complete this degree.
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Glendale Community College Glendale Az placed #13 among the best drafting & design engineering technology schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Glendale. There were roughly 65 drafting & design engineering technology students who graduated with this degree at Glendale Community College Glendale Az in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drafting & design engineering technology degree from Glendale Community College Glendale Az earn around $51,483 in the first couple years of their career. Glendale Community College Glendale Az graduates carry a median of $15,996 in student loans.
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Northern New Mexico College earned the #14 position for drafting & design engineering technology this year. Set in the town of Espanola, Northern New Mexico College is a small public institution. About 31% of students finish within six years. About 11 drafting & design engineering technology degrees were awarded at Northern New Mexico College in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in drafting & design engineering technology from Northern New Mexico College
Angelina College earned the #15 position for drafting & design engineering technology this year. Angelina College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Lufkin. There were roughly 19 drafting & design engineering technology students who graduated with this degree at Angelina College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the drafting & design engineering technology program make about $50,767 in their early career. Angelina College graduates carry a median of $7,828 in student loans.
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Scottsdale Community College came in at #16 for drafting & design engineering technology this year. Set in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 19 drafting & design engineering technology students who graduated with this degree at Scottsdale Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drafting & design engineering technology degree from Scottsdale Community College earn around $48,039 in the first couple years of their career. Scottsdale Community College graduates carry a median of $13,084 in student loans.
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Pima Community College landed the #17 spot for drafting & design engineering technology this year. Located in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public university. Pima Community College awarded about 48 drafting & design engineering technology degrees in the most recent data year. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of $40,977 early in their careers. Pima Community College graduates carry a median of $10,655 in student loans.
More information about a degree in drafting & design engineering technology from Pima Community College
Houston Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best drafting & design engineering technology schools. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. There were roughly 46 drafting & design engineering technology students who graduated with this degree at Houston Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their drafting & design engineering technology degree from Houston Community College earn around $45,548 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,040 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in drafting & design engineering technology from Houston Community College
North Central Texas College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best drafting & design engineering technology schools. Located in the town of Gainesville, North Central Texas College is a large public university. North Central Texas College awarded about 25 drafting & design engineering technology degrees in the most recent data year. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of North Central Texas College earn a median of $43,536 early in their careers. North Central Texas College graduates carry a median of $15,965 in student loans.
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South Texas College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best drafting & design engineering technology schools. This very large public university is located in the city of McAllen. Roughly 20% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 90 drafting & design engineering technology degrees were awarded at South Texas College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from South Texas College generally make around $30,227. Typical student debt for the program is $6,868.
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Temple College earned the #21 position for drafting & design engineering technology this year. Set in the city of Temple, Temple College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 16 drafting & design engineering technology students who graduated with this degree at Temple College in the most recent data year. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Temple College earn a median of $55,262 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,617 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in drafting & design engineering technology from Temple College
The University Of Texas At Brownsville landed the #22 spot for drafting & design engineering technology this year. The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public school located in the city of Brownsville. There were roughly 19 drafting & design engineering technology students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Brownsville in the most recent data year. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of The University Of Texas At Brownsville earn a median of $30,343 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,058.
See the full drafting & design engineering technology program report for The University Of Texas At Brownsville
New Mexico State University Dona Ana earned the #23 position for drafting & design engineering technology this year. Set in the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a moderately-sized public institution. About 23 drafting & design engineering technology degrees were awarded at New Mexico State University Dona Ana in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from New Mexico State University Dona Ana generally make around $39,399. Typical student debt for the program is $10,284.
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Trinity Valley Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best drafting & design engineering technology schools. Set in the town of Athens, Trinity Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 16 drafting & design engineering technology degrees were awarded at Trinity Valley Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their drafting & design engineering technology degree from Trinity Valley Community College earn around $32,623 in the first couple years of their career. Trinity Valley Community College graduates carry a median of $12,323 in student loans.
See the full drafting & design engineering technology program report for Trinity Valley Community College
Grayson College landed the #25 spot for drafting & design engineering technology this year. Grayson College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Denison. About 24 drafting & design engineering technology degrees were awarded at Grayson College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Grayson College generally make around $42,487. Students borrow a median of $11,627 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in drafting & design engineering technology from Grayson College
Rest of the Top 37 Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong drafting & design engineering technology education:
Narrow Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools by State
More Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 77 schools evaluated.
- 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.
