WhatGradsMake
Certificate (1-2 years)-8% vs national median60 grads tracked

Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Southwestern Community College

Ranked 30th of 44 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$28,969
middle 50%: $24,637 – $45,751
Median · 5 years out
$50,311
middle 50%: $37,420 – $65,194
Median · 10 years out
$61,332
middle 50%: $37,041 – $74,301

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians (certificate (1-2 years)) graduates.

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

Graduates of Southwestern Community College's certificate (1-2 years) program in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians earn a median $28,969 one year after graduating, rising to $61,332 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 8% below the national median of $54,898 for this field, ranking 30th of 44 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
8.8 yrs
≈ $10,786 total interest

Same major at other universities

Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 13
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
Tidewater Community College
$53,485 · 5 yrs out
City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College
$53,343 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana- Region 3
$51,789 · 5 yrs out
Chemeketa Community College
$50,539 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
$50,441 · 5 yrs out
Richland Community College
$50,311 · 5 yrs out
Northwest College
$49,582 · 5 yrs out
Ogden-Weber Technical College
$49,171 · 5 yrs out
Bossier Parish Community College
$48,487 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 4
$48,291 · 5 yrs out
South Louisiana Community College
$48,030 · 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
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$59,187 · 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
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

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