[General Drafting & Design Technology/Technician](/majors/engineering-technologies/drafting-design-engineering-technology/drafting-and-design-technology-technician-general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 306 schools to find the best return on investment for general drafting & design technology/technician students.
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Finding the Best Value General Drafting & Design Technology/Technician School for You
Where you study general drafting & design technology/technician affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we built our Best Value General Drafting & Design Technology/Technician Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value General Drafting & Design Technology/Technician Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
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ADBLOCK #171
2026 Best Value General Drafting & Design Technology/Technician Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general drafting & design technology/technician degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Drafting & Design Technology/Technician Schools
Brazosport College earned the #1 spot for value among general drafting & design technology/technician schools in the United States. Located in the suburb of Lake Jackson, Brazosport College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,388, with out-of-state students paying around $4,711. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $6,625 in student loans. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates of Brazosport College earn a median of $32,746 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Cerritos College one of the best values for general drafting & design technology/technician. Set in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $29,495. That is a strong return on a $11,306 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Georgia Northwestern Technical College one of the best values for general drafting & design technology/technician. Set in the city of Rome, Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,300, compared with $5,868 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,492 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from Georgia Northwestern Technical College generally make around $41,229. Set against $8,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Centro College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general drafting & design technology/technician, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,730, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $41,295. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Seminole State College Of Florida came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value general drafting & design technology/technician schools. Set in the city of Sanford, Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,122, while out-of-state students pay about $11,447. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $18,419 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from Seminole State College Of Florida generally make around $48,049. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida State College At Jacksonville landed the #6 spot for general drafting & design technology/technician value this year. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Students from in state pay about $2,657 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,631. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $19,139. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $46,748. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
George C Wallace State Community College Dothan earned the #7 position for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Dothan, George C Wallace State Community College Dothan is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,980 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,850 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,942 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from George C Wallace State Community College Dothan generally make around $34,762. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fresno City College earned the #8 position for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Fresno City College is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,378, compared with $8,638 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,234 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from Fresno City College generally make around $37,470. Set against $7,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Ana College came in at #9 for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,756. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $11,196. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates of Santa Ana College earn a median of $39,633 early in their careers. Set against $11,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hinds Community College placed #10 among the best values for general drafting & design technology/technician. Set in the rural area of Raymond, Hinds Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,250, with out-of-state students paying around $7,300. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $16,385. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $34,003. That is a strong return on a $16,385 median debt.
Pasadena City College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value general drafting & design technology/technician schools. Set in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, compared with $10,924 for out-of-state students. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $38,841 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Texas College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value general drafting & design technology/technician schools. South Texas College is a very large public school located in the city of McAllen. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,920, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $6,868. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $30,227. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Georgia Technical College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value general drafting & design technology/technician schools. Set in the town of Americus, South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,992, compared with $7,202 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $10,423. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates of South Georgia Technical College earn a median of $40,497 early in their careers. Set against $10,423 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Metropolitan Community College Area came in at #14 for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public school located in the city of Omaha. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,375, compared with $4,950 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,799 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $45,583. Set against $12,799 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northeast Alabama Community College earned the #15 position for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Set in the rural area of Rainsville, Northeast Alabama Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $8,910. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $7,459 in student loans. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $35,119. That is a strong return on a $7,459 median debt.
Pima Community College earned the #16 position for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,442, while out-of-state students pay about $7,758. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $10,655. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of $40,977 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,655 median debt.
Alvin Community College came in at #17 for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Set in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,906, compared with $4,402 for out-of-state students. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $8,600 in student loans. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates of Alvin Community College earn a median of $55,057 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,600 median debt.
Norco College came in at #18 for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Set in the suburb of Norco, Norco College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,428 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,498 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $8,203. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $51,206. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Golden West College landed the #19 spot for general drafting & design technology/technician value this year. Golden West College is a large public school located in the suburb of Huntington Beach. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,380, compared with $11,628 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from Golden West College generally make around $82,984. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Citrus College placed #20 among the best values for general drafting & design technology/technician. Set in the suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a large public institution. 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.
Del Mar College placed #21 among the best values for general drafting & design technology/technician. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,500, compared with $6,050 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,476 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates of Del Mar College earn a median of $40,661 early in their careers. Set against $7,476 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Suffolk County Community College landed the #22 spot for general drafting & design technology/technician value this year. Suffolk County Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Selden. Students from in state pay about $6,630 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,246 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $35,667. That is a strong return on a $11,246 median debt.
Trinity Valley Community College placed #23 among the best values for general drafting & design technology/technician. Trinity Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Athens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,640, while out-of-state students pay about $5,970. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,323 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from Trinity Valley Community College generally make around $32,623. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oakland Community College came in at #24 for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Set in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,120 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,560 for out-of-state students. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates of Oakland Community College earn a median of $45,844 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hazard Community And Technical College came in at #25 for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hazard. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,212 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from Hazard Community And Technical College generally make around $32,626. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value General Drafting & Design Technology/Technician Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general drafting & design technology/technician value ranking:
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General Drafting & Design Technology/Technician Related Rankings by Major
General Drafting & Design Technology/Technician is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. Browse the parent area of study.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 306 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 26 ranked schools only.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
[General Drafting & Design Technology/Technician](/majors/engineering-technologies/drafting-design-engineering-technology/drafting-and-design-technology-technician-general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
