WhatGradsMake
Certificate (1-2 years)+5% vs national median56 grads tracked

Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Northern Virginia Community College

Ranked 12th of 44 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$49,171
middle 50%: $32,705 – $65,986
Median · 5 years out
$57,867
middle 50%: $38,967 – $67,570
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 (1-2 years)) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Northern Virginia Community College's certificate (1-2 years) program in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians earn a median $49,171 one year after graduating, rising to $57,867 by year five. Five years out, earnings run 5% above the national median of $54,898 for this field, ranking 12th of 44 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
6.9 yrs
≈ $7,528 total interest

Same major at other universities

SUNY Westchester Community College
$60,219 · 5 yrs out
Front Range Community College
$59,848 · 5 yrs out
Lane Community College
$58,704 · 5 yrs out
Central Oregon Community College
$58,574 · 5 yrs out
Suffolk County Community College
$58,363 · 5 yrs out
River Parishes Community College
$57,991 · 5 yrs out
York Technical College
$57,471 · 5 yrs out
Delgado Community College
$57,334 · 5 yrs out
Metropolitan Community College
$56,877 · 5 yrs out
Lake Land College
$56,877 · 5 yrs out
Northland Community and Technical College
$56,106 · 5 yrs out
Rockland Community College
$55,746 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Northern Virginia Community College

Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$105,430 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Certificate)
$103,697 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$100,794 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Certificate)
$95,510 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Associate)
$95,189 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades, General (Associate)
$95,189 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$92,628 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Certificate)
$88,826 · 5 yrs out
Surveying Engineering (Certificate)
$88,826 · 5 yrs out
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate)
$87,210 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Associate)
$86,799 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Associate)
$86,785 · 5 yrs out

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