WhatGradsMake
Certificate (1-2 years)+13% vs national median108 grads tracked

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

Ranked 4th of 44 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$54,453
middle 50%: $37,984 – $65,986
Median · 5 years out
$61,944
middle 50%: $53,167 – $73,052
Median · 10 years out
$73,271
middle 50%: $59,422 – $89,687

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 Virginia Peninsula Community College's certificate (1-2 years) program in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians earn a median $54,453 one year after graduating, rising to $73,271 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 13% above the national median of $54,898 for this field, ranking 4th 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
6.3 yrs
≈ $6,746 total interest

Same major at other universities

Lakeland Community College
$74,301 · 5 yrs out
Columbus State Community College
$65,392 · 5 yrs out
SOWELA Technical Community College
$61,969 · 5 yrs out
South Central Louisiana Technical College
$60,442 · 5 yrs out
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

Other majors at Virginia Peninsula Community College

Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$85,664 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$82,185 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Associate)
$81,577 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Associate)
$81,577 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$78,948 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$75,158 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$74,571 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$74,491 · 5 yrs out
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$74,333 · 5 yrs out
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate)
$73,958 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$72,770 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$71,911 · 5 yrs out

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