WhatGradsMake
Associate-7% vs national median54 grads tracked

Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Southern State Community College

Ranked 104th of 159 associate programs in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$44,206
middle 50%: $30,070 – $54,857
Median · 5 years out
$53,735
middle 50%: $45,751 – $73,271
Median · 10 years out
$56,170
middle 50%: $45,075 – $92,787

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 Southern State Community College's associate program in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians earn a median $44,206 one year after graduating, rising to $56,170 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 7% below the national median of $57,805 for this field, ranking 104th 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
7.6 yrs
≈ $8,424 total interest

Same major at other universities

New River Community College
$54,615 · 5 yrs out
University of Akron (The)
$54,427 · 5 yrs out
Indian Hills Community College
$54,252 · 5 yrs out
Rochester Community and Technical College
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
Iowa Western Community College
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
Lake Area Technical College
$53,767 · 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
Southwestern Illinois College
$53,343 · 5 yrs out
Queensborough Community College-CUNY
$53,343 · 5 yrs out
Hawkeye Community College
$53,243 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Southern State Community College

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$65,566 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$64,930 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$61,594 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate)
$58,511 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$57,346 · 5 yrs out
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Certificate)
$53,783 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Certificate)
$52,354 · 5 yrs out
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Certificate)
$51,789 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$51,789 · 5 yrs out
Computer Systems Analysis (Associate)
$51,223 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Associate)
$47,224 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other (Associate)
$46,435 · 5 yrs out

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