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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 Illinois

1 Colleges in the United States
$10,122 Avg Student Debt
$42,428 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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd students.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value Architectural Drafting & Architectural CAD/CADD Schools in Illinois

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Architectural Drafting & Architectural CAD/CADD Schools

1

City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College tops our 2026 list of the best value architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd schools in Illinois. City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $4,590 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $11,533 in student loans. Early-career architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates make about $33,960. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

2

Illinois Valley Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd schools. Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Oglesby. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,200, while out-of-state students pay about $16,385. Students borrow a median of $8,099 to complete the architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd program here. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates of Illinois Valley Community College earn a median of $33,224 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,099 median debt.

3

Students looking for strong value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd will find it at Lewis And Clark Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,340 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,840. Students borrow a median of $9,602 to complete the architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd program here. Early-career architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates make about $41,313. Set against $9,602 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

4
Triton College crest
Triton College
River Grove, IL

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Triton College earned it the #4 place for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd. Located in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,070 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,330. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $12,994 in student loans. Soon after graduation, architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd degree recipients from Triton College generally make around $43,278. That is a strong return on a $12,994 median debt.

5
College Of Dupage crest
College Of Dupage
Glen Ellyn, IL

College Of Dupage is a great value for students pursuing a degree in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $12,750. Typical student debt for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates is $12,492. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $43,025 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

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Harper College crest
Harper College
Palatine, IL

Harper College placed #6 among the best values for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd. Harper College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Palatine. Students from in state pay about $3,894 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,874. Typical student debt for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates is $10,963. Early-career architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates make about $44,523. Set against $10,963 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

7
Oakton Community College crest
Oakton Community College
Des Plaines, IL

Oakton Community College earned the #7 position for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. Oakton Community College is a large public school located in the city of Des Plaines. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,985, with out-of-state students paying around $12,462. Students borrow a median of $7,750 to complete the architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd program here. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates of Oakton Community College earn a median of $48,838 early in their careers. Set against $7,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

8

College Of Lake County came in at #8 for value in architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd this year. College Of Lake County is a very large public school located in the suburb of Grayslake. Students from in state pay about $4,788 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,400. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates carry a median of $9,785 in student loans. Architectural Drafting & Architectural Cad/cadd graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $50,314 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

9
Kaskaskia College crest
Kaskaskia College
Centralia, IL

Kaskaskia College placed #9 among the best values for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd. Located in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,800, while out-of-state students pay about $12,570. Typical student debt for architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd graduates is $7,875. Soon after graduation, architectural drafting & architectural cad/cadd degree recipients from Kaskaskia College generally make around $45,658. Set against $7,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 15 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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