WhatGradsMake
Associate-19% vs national median32 grads tracked

Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Rend Lake College

Ranked 149th of 159 associate programs in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$26,659
middle 50%: $20,163 – $34,840
Median · 5 years out
$46,663
middle 50%: $31,905 – $59,848
Median · 10 years out
$42,146
middle 50%: $31,905 – $67,042

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 Rend Lake College's associate program in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians earn a median $26,659 one year after graduating, rising to $42,146 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 19% below the national median of $57,805 for this field, ranking 149th 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
10.5 yrs
≈ $12,368 total interest

Same major at other universities

Laredo College
$48,030 · 5 yrs out
Community College of Denver
$48,030 · 5 yrs out
El Paso Community College
$48,030 · 5 yrs out
Montana Technological University
$47,939 · 5 yrs out
Dalton State College
$47,939 · 5 yrs out
Angelina College
$47,856 · 5 yrs out
Eastern Gateway Community College
$45,751 · 5 yrs out
Triton College
$45,210 · 5 yrs out
Mountain Empire Community College
$44,398 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College of Agriculture & Technology at Morrisville
$43,948 · 5 yrs out
Oklahoma City Community College
$43,722 · 5 yrs out
York County Community College
$43,588 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Rend Lake College

Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$86,981 · 5 yrs out
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$86,768 · 5 yrs out
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$78,993 · 5 yrs out
Agricultural Production Operations (Certificate)
$73,728 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$72,395 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Certificate)
$65,897 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$64,930 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Associate)
$62,446 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Associate)
$62,446 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$60,696 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$60,533 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Certificate)
$59,934 · 5 yrs out

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