WhatGradsMake
Associate+2% vs national median59 grads tracked

Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Southwestern Community College

Ranked 61st of 159 associate programs in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$43,240
middle 50%: $33,005 – $50,767
Median · 5 years out
$59,187
middle 50%: $39,655 – $73,014
Median · 10 years out
$59,848
middle 50%: $44,060 – $80,729

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians (associate) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Southwestern Community College's associate program in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians earn a median $43,240 one year after graduating, rising to $59,848 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 2% above the national median of $57,805 for this field, ranking 61st of 159 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
7.1 yrs
≈ $8,047 total interest

Same major at other universities

Genesee Community College
$59,848 · 5 yrs out
College of Lake County
$59,848 · 5 yrs out
Lake Superior College
$59,476 · 5 yrs out
College Of DuPage
$59,291 · 5 yrs out
Niagara County Community College
$59,282 · 5 yrs out
Lincoln University
$59,253 · 5 yrs out
San Antonio College
$59,105 · 5 yrs out
Three Rivers Community College
$59,105 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 10
$59,105 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred
$59,077 · 5 yrs out
L. E. Fletcher Technical Community College
$58,858 · 5 yrs out
Tidewater Community College
$58,659 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Southwestern Community College

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$65,511 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$64,655 · 5 yrs out
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Certificate)
$57,604 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Certificate)
$56,938 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$55,746 · 5 yrs out
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Associate)
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields (Associate)
$52,165 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$50,477 · 5 yrs out
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$50,311 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Associate)
$49,171 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$48,487 · 5 yrs out
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$47,616 · 5 yrs out

Related fields of study

Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians
Compare universities
Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians
Compare universities
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians
Compare universities
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
Compare universities
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
Compare universities
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians
Compare universities