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2026 Best Value Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in drafting & design engineering technology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools
Leading the list is Henry Ford Community College, our #1 best value for drafting & design engineering technology in the Great Lakes Region. Henry Ford Community College is a large public school located in the city of Dearborn. In-state tuition and fees average $3,568, compared with $7,816 for out-of-state students. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $18,876 in student loans. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Henry Ford Community College earn a median of $36,247 early in their careers. Set against $18,876 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in drafting & design engineering technology will find it at City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Students borrow a median of $11,533 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College earn a median of $33,960 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,533 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in drafting & design engineering technology will find it at Illinois Valley Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Oglesby, Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,200, compared with $16,385 for out-of-state students. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $8,099 in student loans. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Illinois Valley Community College earn a median of $33,224 early in their careers. Set against $8,099 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kalamazoo Valley Community College earned it the #4 place for drafting & design engineering technology. Located in the suburb of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,144, compared with $9,094 for out-of-state students. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $44,198. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Triton College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in drafting & design engineering technology, landing the #5 spot this year. Triton College is a large public school located in the suburb of River Grove. In-state tuition and fees average $5,070, with out-of-state students paying around $15,330. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $12,994. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Triton College earn a median of $43,278 early in their careers. Set against $12,994 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
ADBLOCK #101
Lewis And Clark Community College earned the #6 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Godfrey. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,340, with out-of-state students paying around $7,840. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $9,602 in student loans. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Lewis And Clark Community College earn a median of $41,313 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oakland Community College earned the #7 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Oakland Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Auburn Hills. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,120, compared with $5,560 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $13,750. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Oakland Community College earn a median of $45,844 early in their careers. Set against $13,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Elgin Community College earned the #8 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,252, compared with $9,516 for out-of-state students. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $7,727 in student loans. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $43,975. Set against $7,727 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Macomb Community College earned the #9 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Macomb Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Warren. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $8,296. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Macomb Community College generally make around $44,701. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Joliet Junior College earned the #10 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,530 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $11,995 in student loans. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $40,118. Set against $11,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College placed #16 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,517, compared with $10,044 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $11,411. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Cincinnati State Technical And Community College generally make around $47,975. Set against $11,411 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Stark State College earned the #17 position for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,790 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,886. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $17,349. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Stark State College earn a median of $42,724 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,349 median debt.
Kaskaskia College placed #18 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Located in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800, while out-of-state students pay about $12,570. Students borrow a median of $7,875 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, drafting & design engineering technology degree recipients from Kaskaskia College generally make around $45,658. That is a strong return on a $7,875 median debt.
Waukesha County Technical College placed #19 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Set in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,803, while out-of-state students pay about $7,046. Typical student debt for drafting & design engineering technology graduates is $14,500. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $46,460. Set against $14,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Clark State Community College came in at #20 for value in drafting & design engineering technology this year. Clark State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Springfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,393, compared with $8,049 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,740 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Clark State Community College earn a median of $39,734 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College placed #21 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Set in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,960, while out-of-state students pay about $7,203. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $14,997 in student loans. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College earn a median of $42,016 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Vincennes University placed #22 among the best values for drafting & design engineering technology. Located in the town of Vincennes, Vincennes University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,126, with out-of-state students paying around $16,858. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $14,506 in student loans. Early-career drafting & design engineering technology graduates make about $45,976. Set against $14,506 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fox Valley Technical College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value drafting & design engineering technology schools. Located in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $7,283. Students borrow a median of $13,319 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $44,782 early in their careers. Set against $13,319 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Grand Rapids Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value drafting & design engineering technology schools. Grand Rapids Community College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Rapids. In-state tuition and fees average $4,179, with out-of-state students paying around $12,219. Students borrow a median of $11,748 to complete the drafting & design engineering technology program here. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Grand Rapids Community College earn a median of $49,865 early in their careers. Set against $11,748 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northcentral Technical College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value drafting & design engineering technology schools. Set in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,889, compared with $7,132 for out-of-state students. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $8,000 in student loans. Drafting & Design Engineering Technology graduates of Northcentral Technical College earn a median of $53,105 early in their careers. Set against $8,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 32 Best Value Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in drafting & design engineering technology:
Narrow Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Schools by State
[Drafting & Design Engineering Technology](/majors/engineering-technologies/drafting-design-engineering-technology/) 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.
