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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Value CAD/CADD Drafting &/or Design Technology/Technician Schools in the Great Lakes Region

3 Colleges in the United States
$13,651 Avg Student Debt
$42,210 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value CAD/CADD Drafting &/or Design Technology/Technician Badge [CAD/CADD Drafting &/or Design Technology/Technician](/majors/engineering-technologies/drafting-design-engineering-technology/cad-cadd-drafting-and-or-design-technology-technician/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician education at a price that pays off.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 52 schools to find the best return on investment for cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician students.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value CAD/CADD Drafting &/or Design Technology/Technician Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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

Best Value CAD/CADD Drafting &/or Design Technology/Technician Schools

1

Leading the list is Henry Ford Community College, our #1 best value for cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician in the Great Lakes Region. Henry Ford Community College is a large public school located in the city of Dearborn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,568, while out-of-state students pay about $7,816. Cad/cadd Drafting &/or Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $18,876 in student loans. Early-career cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician graduates make about $36,247. Set against $18,876 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

2

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Illinois Valley Community College earned it the #2 place for cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician. Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Oglesby. In-state tuition and fees average $4,200, compared with $16,385 for out-of-state students. Cad/cadd Drafting &/or Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $8,099 in student loans. Soon after graduation, cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician degree recipients from Illinois Valley Community College generally make around $33,224. That is a strong return on a $8,099 median debt.

3

A rank of #3 makes Kalamazoo Valley Community College one of the best values for cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician. Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kalamazoo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,144, while out-of-state students pay about $9,094. Cad/cadd Drafting &/or Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans. Soon after graduation, cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician degree recipients from Kalamazoo Valley Community College generally make around $44,198. That is a strong return on a $15,525 median debt.

4
Triton College crest
Triton College
River Grove, IL

Triton College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,070, while out-of-state students pay about $15,330. Cad/cadd Drafting &/or Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,994 in student loans. Soon after graduation, cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician degree recipients from Triton College generally make around $43,278. That is a strong return on a $12,994 median debt.

5

Students looking for strong value in cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician will find it at Lewis And Clark Community College, which ranked #5. Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Godfrey. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,340, while out-of-state students pay about $7,840. Cad/cadd Drafting &/or Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,602 in student loans. Early-career cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician graduates make about $41,313. That is a strong return on a $9,602 median debt.

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6

Joliet Junior College landed the #6 spot for cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician value this year. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,530, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Students borrow a median of $11,995 to complete the cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician program here. Cad/cadd Drafting &/or Design Technology/technician graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $40,118 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

7

Elgin Community College earned the #7 position for value in cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,252 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,516. Typical student debt for cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician graduates is $7,727. Early-career cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician graduates make about $43,975. That is a strong return on a $7,727 median debt.

8
College Of Dupage crest
College Of Dupage
Glen Ellyn, IL

College Of Dupage came in at #8 for value in cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician this year. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $12,750. Cad/cadd Drafting &/or Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,492 in student loans. Early-career cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician graduates make about $43,025. That is a strong return on a $12,492 median debt.

9
Oakton Community College crest
Oakton Community College
Des Plaines, IL

Oakton Community College came in at #9 for value in cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,985 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,462. Students borrow a median of $7,750 to complete the cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician program here. Cad/cadd Drafting &/or Design Technology/technician 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.

10

College Of Lake County placed #10 among the best values for cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician. Set in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,788 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,400. Students borrow a median of $9,785 to complete the cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician program here. Cad/cadd Drafting &/or Design Technology/technician 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.

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Ivy Tech Community College crest
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN

Ivy Tech Community College placed #11 among the best values for cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Cad/cadd Drafting &/or Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,151 in student loans. Early-career cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician graduates make about $41,467. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

12
Stark State College crest
Stark State College
North Canton, OH

Stark State College landed the #12 spot for cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician value this year. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,790, while out-of-state students pay about $7,886. Typical student debt for cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician graduates is $17,349. Early-career cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician graduates make about $42,724. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

13

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,960, compared with $7,203 for out-of-state students. Cad/cadd Drafting &/or Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $14,997 in student loans. Early-career cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician graduates make about $42,016. That is a strong return on a $14,997 median debt.

14

Northcentral Technical College earned the #14 position for value in cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,889, with out-of-state students paying around $7,132. Students borrow a median of $8,000 to complete the cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician program here. Early-career cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician graduates make about $53,105. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

15

Terra State Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician schools. Set in the rural area of Fremont, Terra State Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,748, with out-of-state students paying around $8,544. Cad/cadd Drafting &/or Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $24,070 in student loans. Early-career cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician graduates make about $63,495. Set against $24,070 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

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Trine University crest
Trine University
Angola, IN

Trine University came in at #16 for value in cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician this year. Trine University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Angola. In-state tuition and fees average $36,560. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology/technician degree recipients from Trine University generally make around $65,013. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Trine University admits about 86% of applicants.

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 52 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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