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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value Architectural Drafting & Architectural CAD/CADD Schools in the Far Western Region

2 Colleges in the United States
$14,886 Avg Student Debt
$44,209 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Architectural Drafting & Architectural CAD/CADD Badge [Architectural Drafting & Architectural CAD/CADD](/majors/engineering-technologies/drafting-design-engineering-technology/architectural-drafting-and-architectural-cad-cadd/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

College Factual analyzed 32 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd schools.

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2026 Best Value Architectural Drafting & Architectural CAD/CADD Schools in the Far Western Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Architectural Drafting & Architectural CAD/CADD Schools

1
College Of The Canyons crest
College Of The Canyons
Santa Clarita, CA

For return on investment in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd, no school beat College Of The Canyons this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,166, compared with $10,958 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates is $9,776. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 early in their careers. Set against $9,776 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

2

A rank of #2 makes Pasadena City College one of the best values for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,924. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $38,841 early in their careers. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

3
Norco College crest
Norco College
Norco, CA

Norco College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Norco, Norco College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,428 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Typical student debt for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates is $8,203. Median earnings reach $51,206 ten years out. Set against $8,203 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

4
Santa Ana College crest
Santa Ana College
Santa Ana, CA

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Santa Ana College earned it the #4 place for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd. Located in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, compared with $10,756 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates is $11,196. Early-career architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates make about $39,633. Set against $11,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

5
Citrus College crest
Citrus College
Glendora, CA

Citrus College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd schools. Citrus College is a large public school located in the suburb of Glendora. Students from in state pay about $1,204 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,636. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,065.

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6
Victor Valley College crest
Victor Valley College
Victorville, CA

Victor Valley College came in at #6 for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. Victor Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Victorville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,425, with out-of-state students paying around $10,125. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $7,995 in student loans. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates of Victor Valley College earn a median of $37,755 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

7
Sierra College crest
Sierra College
Rocklin, CA

Sierra College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd schools. Located in the suburb of Rocklin, Sierra College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,446 in tuition and fees. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $12,733 in student loans. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates of Sierra College earn a median of $29,214 early in their careers. Set against $12,733 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

8
Allan Hancock College crest
Allan Hancock College
Santa Maria, CA

Allan Hancock College came in at #8 for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. Set in the city of Santa Maria, Allan Hancock College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,156, while out-of-state students pay about $9,892. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,786.

9
Palomar College crest
Palomar College
San Marcos, CA

Palomar College came in at #9 for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. Palomar College is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Marcos. In-state tuition and fees average $1,354, with out-of-state students paying around $10,650. Median earnings reach $42,300 ten years out.

10

Lake Washington Institute Of Technology earned the #10 position for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Kirkland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,997, with out-of-state students paying around $12,062. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $19,695 in student loans. Early-career architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates make about $60,000. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

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11

Truckee Meadows Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd schools. Truckee Meadows Community College is a large public school located in the city of Reno. Students from in state pay about $3,352 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,018 for out-of-state students. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $12,290 in student loans. Early-career architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates make about $52,785. That is a strong return on a $12,290 median debt.

12
Olympic College crest
Olympic College
Bremerton, WA

Olympic College earned the #12 position for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. Set in the city of Bremerton, Olympic College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,472 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,740. Students borrow a median of $11,497 to complete the architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd program here. Soon after graduation, architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd degree recipients from Olympic College generally make around $57,593. That is a strong return on a $11,497 median debt.

13
Fullerton College crest
Fullerton College
Fullerton, CA

Fullerton College landed the #13 spot for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd value this year. Fullerton College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,151, while out-of-state students pay about $12,379. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,366.

14

South Puget Sound Community College earned the #14 position for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. Set in the city of Olympia, South Puget Sound Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,257, while out-of-state students pay about $5,818. Typical student debt for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates is $14,245. Early-career architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates make about $39,430. That is a strong return on a $14,245 median debt.

15

Portland Community College came in at #15 for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. Located in the city of Portland, Portland Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,220 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,440. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $20,648 in student loans. Early-career architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates make about $54,198. Set against $20,648 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

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16
Rio Hondo College crest
Rio Hondo College
Whittier, CA

Rio Hondo College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd schools. Located in the rural area of Whittier, Rio Hondo College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,388, while out-of-state students pay about $9,884. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $15,510 in student loans. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates of Rio Hondo College earn a median of $95,666 early in their careers. Set against $15,510 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

17

Cabrillo College earned the #17 position for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. Located in the suburb of Aptos, Cabrillo College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,270, while out-of-state students pay about $9,862. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $10,425 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd degree recipients from Cabrillo College generally make around $47,750. That is a strong return on a $10,425 median debt.

18
Academy Of Art University crest
Academy Of Art University
San Francisco, CA

Academy Of Art University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $30,736. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $45,000 in student loans. Early-career architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates make about $46,811. That is a strong return on a $45,000 median debt.

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 32 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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