Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians: is this undergraduate certificate or diploma worth it?
National picture across 19 reporting college programs.
$55,406 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
Observed national outcomes
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $55,406
- Federal debt
- $12,965
- Reporting programs
- 19
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $59,496
- Federal debt
- $13,250
- Reporting programs
- 43
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $71,326
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Reporting programs
- 9
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $71,613
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $48,453
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1SUNY College of Technology at Delhi$69,7052Cincinnati State Technical and Community College$68,2913Northcentral Technical College$62,1264Minneapolis Community and Technical College$60,8535Northeast Community College$60,6056Hillsborough College$59,2997Austin Community College District$58,7758College of Western Idaho$58,2839Porter & Chester Institute$57,84910Dallas College$55,406Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SUNY College of Technology at DelhiUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Delhi, NY | $69,705 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,225 |
| 2 | Cincinnati State Technical and Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Cincinnati, OH | $68,291 | $11,411 | Baseline needed | $4,968 |
| 3 | Northcentral Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Wausau, WI | $62,126 | Not available | Baseline needed | $10,303 |
| 4 | Minneapolis Community and Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Minneapolis, MN | $60,853 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,812 |
| 5 | Northeast Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Norfolk, NE | $60,605 | Not available | Baseline needed | $8,544 |
| 6 | Hillsborough CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Tampa, FL | $59,299 | $14,000 | Baseline needed | $3,861 |
| 7 | Austin Community College DistrictUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Austin, TX | $58,775 | $10,500 | Baseline needed | $6,390 |
| 8 | College of Western IdahoUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Nampa, ID | $58,283 | $14,770 | Baseline needed | $8,500 |
| 9 | Porter & Chester InstituteUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Bridgeport, CT | $57,849 | $13,910 | Baseline needed | $18,348 |
| 10 | Dallas CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Dallas, TX | $55,406 | $11,000 | Baseline needed | $3,214 |
| 11 | Houston City CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Houston, TX | $55,262 | Not available | Baseline needed | $5,737 |
| 12 | Miami Dade CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Miami, FL | $53,652 | $15,500 | Baseline needed | $5,463 |
| 13 | Remington College-Dallas CampusUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Dallas, TX | $44,179 | $12,965 | Baseline needed | $29,805 |
| 14 | Remington College-Mobile CampusUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Mobile, AL | $44,179 | $12,965 | Baseline needed | $26,120 |
| 15 | Remington College-Fort Worth CampusUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | North Richland Hills, TX | $44,179 | $12,965 | Baseline needed | $25,913 |
| 16 | Remington College-Memphis CampusUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Memphis, TN | $44,179 | $12,965 | Baseline needed | $26,572 |
| 17 | Delgado Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | New Orleans, LA | $43,653 | Not available | Baseline needed | $9,747 |
| 18 | Front Range Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Westminster, CO | $42,277 | $10,750 | Baseline needed | $13,031 |
| 19 | South Texas CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | McAllen, TX | $31,238 | Not available | Baseline needed | $1,751 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.