Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 9 reporting college programs.
+$5,499 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
This is a positive modeled result. Price, time to finish and future earnings can still change the outcome.
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.
1Western Michigan University$84,6222Central Michigan University$84,0643Trine University$77,5174Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses$77,5175University of Central Missouri$71,3266Pennsylvania College of Technology$68,7557Academy of Art University$66,7838Indiana University-Indianapolis$61,4209Murray State University$58,862Observed 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. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Michigan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kalamazoo, MI | $84,622 | $31,000 | +64% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Central Michigan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Mount Pleasant, MI | $84,064 | $28,500 | +56% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Trine UniversityBachelor's Degree | Angola, IN | $77,517 | $27,000 | +16% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional CampusesBachelor's Degree | Angola, IN | $77,517 | $27,000 | +34% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | University of Central MissouriBachelor's Degree | Warrensburg, MO | $71,326 | $21,861 | +11% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Pennsylvania College of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Williamsport, PA | $68,755 | $27,000 | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Academy of Art UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $66,783 | $45,000 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Indiana University-IndianapolisBachelor's Degree | Indianapolis, IN | $61,420 | $27,000 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Murray State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Murray, KY | $58,862 | $22,612 | -36% | Negative payoff |
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.