WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)+23% vs national median46 grads tracked

Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Blue Ridge Community College

Ranked 6th of 77 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$48,487
middle 50%: $35,528 – $58,363
Median · 5 years out
$73,728
middle 50%: $50,539 – $110,004
Median · 10 years out
n/a
not enough graduates to report

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 Blue Ridge Community College's certificate (under 1 year) program in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians earn a median $48,487 one year after graduating, rising to $73,728 by year five. Five years out, earnings run 23% above the national median of $59,848 for this field, ranking 6th 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
5.8 yrs
≈ $6,676 total interest

Same major at other universities

Northern Virginia Community College
$80,325 · 5 yrs out
Brazosport College
$78,843 · 5 yrs out
College of Lake County
$78,110 · 5 yrs out
Lee College
$77,340 · 5 yrs out
Hennepin Technical College
$74,472 · 5 yrs out
Naugatuck Valley Community College
$72,585 · 5 yrs out
San Jacinto Community College District
$72,514 · 5 yrs out
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

Other majors at Blue Ridge Community College

Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$68,533 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$65,866 · 5 yrs out
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$65,669 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$63,572 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$60,095 · 5 yrs out
Management Information Systems and Services (Associate)
$53,485 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Associate)
$52,435 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Associate)
$52,283 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Associate)
$52,283 · 5 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Associate)
$51,223 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (Associate)
$51,223 · 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