WhatGradsMake
Associate-8% vs national median56 grads tracked

Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Southwestern Illinois College

Ranked 108th of 159 associate programs in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$46,532
middle 50%: $37,592 – $59,517
Median · 5 years out
$53,343
middle 50%: $46,207 – $69,841
Median · 10 years out
$85,242
middle 50%: $63,874 – $100,794

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 Illinois College's associate program in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians earn a median $46,532 one year after graduating, rising to $85,242 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 8% below the national median of $57,805 for this field, ranking 108th 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
≈ $8,048 total interest

Same major at other universities

Iowa Western Community College
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
Lake Area Technical College
$53,767 · 5 yrs out
Southern State Community College
$53,735 · 5 yrs out
State Fair Community College
$53,696 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 14
$53,604 · 5 yrs out
Central Ohio Technical College
$53,397 · 5 yrs out
Queensborough Community College-CUNY
$53,343 · 5 yrs out
Hawkeye Community College
$53,243 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
$53,219 · 5 yrs out
Western Dakota Technical College
$53,202 · 5 yrs out
Texas State Technical College
$53,181 · 5 yrs out
Kirkwood Community College
$52,939 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Southwestern Illinois College

Fire Protection (Associate)
$99,192 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Certificate)
$80,595 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Certificate)
$72,907 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Certificate)
$72,907 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$72,441 · 5 yrs out
Carpenters (Certificate)
$70,557 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Associate)
$70,365 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Associate)
$69,946 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Associate)
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$68,650 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$68,526 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Certificate)
$67,570 · 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