# Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians

> A program that prepares individuals to generally apply technical skills to create working drawings and computer simulations for a variety of applications. Includes instruction in specification interpretation, dimensioning techniques, drafting calculations, material estimation, technical communications, computer applications, and interpersonal communications.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/drafting-design-engineering-technologies-technicians
- CIP code: 15.13 (Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians)
- Colleges offering it: 456 at its most common degree level

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 456 | $48,176 | $58,283 | $12,362 |
| Associate's | 388 | $51,920 | $59,996 | $12,000 |
| Bachelor's | 22 | $66,895 | $77,517 | $25,000 |
| Master's | 12 | not reported | not reported | $69,403 |
| Doctoral | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Western Michigan University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/western-michigan-university-3231) | Kalamazoo, MI | $84,622 | $31,000 |
| [Trine University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/trine-university-2806) | Angola, IN | $77,517 | $27,000 |
| [University of Central Missouri](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-central-missouri-2892) | Warrensburg, MO | $71,326 | $21,750 |
| [Pennsylvania College of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pennsylvania-college-of-technology-2096) | Williamsport, PA | $68,755 | $26,000 |
| [Murray State University-Kentucky](https://www.collegesref.com/college/murray-state-university-kentucky-1807) | Murray, KY | $58,862 | not reported |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Electrical and Electronics Drafters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electrical-and-electronics-drafters): $76,870 median pay
- [Mechanical Drafters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/mechanical-drafters): $71,550 median pay
- [Architectural and Civil Drafters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/architectural-and-civil-drafters): $66,150 median pay
- [Drafters, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/drafters-all-other): $63,520 median pay

## More in Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians

- [Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/industrial-production-technologies-technicians): 391 colleges
- [Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/electrical-electronic-engineering-technologies-technicians): 381 colleges
- [Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/electromechanical-technologies-technicians): 370 colleges
- [Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/environmental-control-technologies-technicians): 210 colleges
- [Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/mechanical-engineering-related-technologies-technicians): 210 colleges
- [Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/engineering-technologies-technicians-general): 182 colleges
- [Engineering-Related Fields](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/engineering-related-fields): 163 colleges
- [Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/energy-systems-technologies-technicians): 155 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/