Certificate (under 1 year)0% vs national median295 grads tracked
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Elgin Community College
Ranked 32nd of 77 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$47,444
middle 50%: $28,420 – $67,993
Median · 5 years out
$59,719
middle 50%: $46,435 – $78,529
Median · 10 years out
$71,298
middle 50%: $53,814 – $97,191
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians (certificate (under 1 year)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Elgin Community College drafting certificate holders earn a median of $47k initially. This grows to $60k after five years and $71k after ten years.
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
6.8 yrs
≈ $7,537 total interest
Same major at other universities
Wharton County Junior College
$61,250 · 5 yrs out
Austin Community College
$61,062 · 5 yrs out
Trident Technical College
$60,533 · 5 yrs out
Rochester Community and Technical College
$60,342 · 5 yrs out
Kilgore College
$59,848 · 5 yrs out
Collin County Community College District
$59,848 · 5 yrs out
Front Range Community College
$59,443 · 5 yrs out
Kankakee Community College
$59,253 · 5 yrs out
Triton College
$59,105 · 5 yrs out
Portland Community College
$58,998 · 5 yrs out
Gateway Community College
$58,858 · 5 yrs out
Amarillo College
$58,363 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Elgin Community College
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$79,834 · 5 yrs out
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$76,251 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$75,786 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$75,752 · 5 yrs out
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Certificate)
$75,598 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$72,585 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Associate)
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Associate)
$68,521 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Associate)
$68,521 · 5 yrs out
Science Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$67,887 · 5 yrs out
Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$67,887 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Certificate)
$67,050 · 5 yrs out
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