WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)+10% vs national median204 grads tracked

Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Oakton College

Ranked 15th of 77 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$52,839
middle 50%: $38,875 – $74,959
Median · 5 years out
$65,634
middle 50%: $48,487 – $85,178
Median · 10 years out
$67,343
middle 50%: $49,855 – $83,018

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

Graduates of Oakton College's certificate (under 1 year) program in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians earn a median $52,839 one year after graduating, rising to $67,343 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 10% above the national median of $59,848 for this field, ranking 15th of 77 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
6.1 yrs
≈ $6,701 total interest

Same major at other universities

Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
$71,605 · 5 yrs out
Alvin Community College
$69,384 · 5 yrs out
Houston Community College
$68,717 · 5 yrs out
College of the Mainland
$67,887 · 5 yrs out
Tyler Junior College
$66,438 · 5 yrs out
Northern Essex Community College
$65,986 · 5 yrs out
Century College
$65,410 · 5 yrs out
Midland College
$63,769 · 5 yrs out
Moraine Valley Community College
$63,681 · 5 yrs out
Greenville Technical College
$63,305 · 5 yrs out
Metropolitan Community College
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
Northeast Iowa Community College
$62,818 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Oakton College

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$96,354 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$95,189 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Certificate)
$94,549 · 5 yrs out
Computer Software and Media Applications (Certificate)
$92,948 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$83,533 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$82,614 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Certificate)
$80,729 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Associate)
$79,787 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Associate)
$79,787 · 5 yrs out
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$77,901 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$77,343 · 5 yrs out
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Certificate)
$77,146 · 5 yrs out

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