by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Civil Drafting & Civil Engineering CAD/CADD explores Civil Drafting And Civil Engineering Cad/cadd. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To Develop Working Drawing And Electronic Simulations In Support Of Civil Engineers, Geological Engineers, And Related Professionals. Includes Instruction In Basic Civil Engineering Principles, Geological And Seismographic Mapping, Machine Drafting, Computer-Aided Drafting (Cad), Pipe Drafting, Survey Interpretation, And Blueprint Reading. Read on to learn the essential details every civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd programs.
Across the country, civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd draws strong interest, with 108 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Civil Drafting & Civil Engineering CAD/CADD Schools ranking analyzes these 15 schools to determine the best overall colleges for civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd programs later in this article.
Programs in Civil Drafting & Civil Engineering CAD/CADD build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 22 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 44 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 42 |
Majoring in civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd prepares you for many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | 114,684 | 13.5% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $43,976 |
| 4 years | $45,788 |
| 5 years | $51,867 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $82,779 |
With 15 different civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd school rankings to help you.
Students interested in civil drafting & civil engineering cad/cadd, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
