2026 Best Value General Drafting & Design Technology/Technician Schools in California
[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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general drafting & design technology/technician education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 52 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value general drafting & design technology/technician schools.
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2026 Best Value General Drafting & Design Technology/Technician Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general drafting & design technology/technician, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Drafting & Design Technology/Technician Schools
Cerritos College tops our 2026 list of the best value general drafting & design technology/technician schools in California. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, compared with $12,004 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $11,306. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $29,495 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Fresno City College earned it the #2 place for general drafting & design technology/technician. Fresno City College is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $7,234 in student loans. 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.
Norco College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general drafting & design technology/technician, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Norco, Norco College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,428, with out-of-state students paying around $12,498. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $8,203 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,206 ten years after entry. Set against $8,203 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Golden West College one of the best values for general drafting & design technology/technician. Set in the suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,380 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,628 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $82,984. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pasadena City College earned it the #5 place for general drafting & design technology/technician. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,924. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $38,841. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Ana College placed #6 among the best values for general drafting & design technology/technician. Set in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public institution. 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 general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $11,196. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $39,633. That is a strong return on a $11,196 median debt.
Citrus College placed #7 among the best values for general drafting & design technology/technician. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $10,636. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,065 ten years after entry.
Victor Valley College came in at #8 for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Located in the suburb of Victorville, Victor Valley College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,425 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,125. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $7,995. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $37,755. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Butte College landed the #9 spot for general drafting & design technology/technician value this year. Butte College is a large public school located in the rural area of Oroville. Students from in state pay about $1,356 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,276. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $13,302 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from Butte College generally make around $67,048. That is a strong return on a $13,302 median debt.
Sierra College placed #10 among the best values for general drafting & design technology/technician. Set in the suburb of Rocklin, Sierra College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,446. Students borrow a median of $12,733 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician 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.
Allan Hancock College earned the #11 position for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Allan Hancock College is a large public school located in the city of Santa Maria. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, with out-of-state students paying around $9,892. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,786.
Palomar College came in at #12 for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,354 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,650. Median earnings reach $42,300 ten years out.
Miracosta College earned the #13 position for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Set in the suburb of Oceanside, Miracosta College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,158 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,750. Median earnings reach $43,845 ten years out.
Fullerton College landed the #14 spot for general drafting & design technology/technician value this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, Fullerton College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,151, compared with $12,379 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $43,366 ten years out.
San Joaquin Delta College came in at #15 for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Stockton, San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $9,772. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $6,382. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from San Joaquin Delta College generally make around $65,168. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
East Los Angeles College came in at #16 for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. Located in the suburb of Monterey Park, East Los Angeles College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,238, with out-of-state students paying around $10,572. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $8,180 in student loans. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $33,595. Set against $8,180 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rio Hondo College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value general drafting & design technology/technician schools. Located in the rural area of Whittier, Rio Hondo College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,388 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,884. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $15,510. Early-career general drafting & design technology/technician graduates make about $95,666. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cabrillo College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value general drafting & design technology/technician schools. Cabrillo College is a large public school located in the suburb of Aptos. In-state tuition and fees average $1,270, compared with $9,862 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,425 to complete the general drafting & design technology/technician program here. General Drafting & Design Technology/technician graduates of Cabrillo College earn a median of $47,750 early in their careers. Set against $10,425 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Academy Of Art University came in at #19 for value in general drafting & design technology/technician this year. 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. Typical student debt for general drafting & design technology/technician graduates is $45,000. Soon after graduation, general drafting & design technology/technician degree recipients from Academy Of Art University generally make around $46,811. Set against $45,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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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 · 52 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
