Drafting and Design Technology · Pennsylvania

Drafting and Design Technology colleges in Pennsylvania

CampusPin lists 142 U.S. colleges in Pennsylvania that offer Drafting and Design Technology programs. Compare tuition, acceptance rate, and enrollment in the table below, every figure links back to the institution's official IPEDS data.

Drafting and Design Technology trains you to turn engineering and architectural concepts into precise working drawings and 3D models using CAD software.

Schools in Pennsylvania that offer Drafting and Design Technology

Drafting and Design Technology programs in Pennsylvania: by the numbers

A quick comparison of the 50 schools (of 142 total) listed above, drawn from each institution's published IPEDS data.

Schools listed

142

Public / private

12 / 38

Universities / 2-year

39 / 11

Cities represented

36

In-state tuition range

$4,632–$68,300

Median in-state tuition

$31,263

Lowest published in-state tuition

Community College of Philadelphia

$4,632

Most selective

Carnegie Mellon University

11% acceptance

Largest by enrollment

Drexel University

21,623 students

Figures reflect the schools currently listed and each institution's most recent reported data. Verify current tuition and admissions details with the school before applying.

What you'll study in a Drafting and Design Technology program

  • Reading and interpreting engineering and architectural specifications and blueprints
  • Orthographic, isometric, and auxiliary projection and multiview drawing
  • Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) and sectioning conventions
  • 2D drafting and 3D parametric modeling in CAD tools such as AutoCAD, Revit, and SolidWorks or Inventor
  • Building information modeling (BIM) and the production of construction documents
  • Drafting calculations, scaling, and material and quantity estimation
  • Drafting standards (ANSI, ISO) and the symbols used across disciplines
  • Producing assembly, detail, and shop drawings for manufacturing and construction
  • Technical communication and collaboration with engineers, architects, and project teams

Where a Drafting and Design Technology degree can lead

  • Architectural Drafter
  • Civil Drafter
  • Mechanical Drafter
  • Electrical and Electronics Drafter
  • CAD Technician
  • Design Drafter

Typical pay: Early-career wages vary by employer, region, and experience (BLS, 2024 architectural and civil drafters median $64,280).

Drafting and Design Technology teaches you to translate the ideas of engineers, architects, and designers into the precise technical drawings and computer models that guide construction and manufacturing. Coursework covers orthographic and isometric projection, dimensioning and tolerancing, sectioning, and the interpretation of specifications, along with drafting calculations, material estimation, and the technical and interpersonal communication needed to work on a project team. You build hands-on skill in computer-aided design and drafting tools such as AutoCAD, Revit, and SolidWorks or Inventor, learning to produce 2D plans, 3D parametric models, building information models, and construction documents, and to read the symbols and standards that drawings rely on. Where architecture focuses on designing the form, function, and concept of a building, this field focuses on producing the accurate, dimensioned documents and models that turn a finished design into something that can actually be built or fabricated.

Most students enter through a certificate or an associate degree at a community or technical college, building a portfolio of drawings and models that demonstrates command of CAD and drafting conventions. Drafting itself usually does not carry a state license, though some workers pursue voluntary credentials such as the American Design Drafting Association certification to signal proficiency to employers; requirements vary, so confirm any certification's value with the school and with employers in your area. Graduates work in settings such as architecture and engineering firms, construction, manufacturing, and electrical and mechanical contracting, often specializing in architectural, civil, mechanical, or electrical drafting. A program is preparation for that work and a stepping stone toward design and engineering technology roles, not a guarantee of a position, and pay and demand vary by employer, region, industry, and your experience and software skills.

In federal data for the closely related occupation of architectural and civil drafters, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median wage of $64,280 and projects employment to grow about 4.1% from 2024 to 2034; an associate's degree is the typical entry-level education for that occupation. National figures are occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages or graduate outcomes.

Drafting and Design Technology in other states

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Use CampusPin's filter-first search to narrow 142+ Drafting and Design Technology programs in Pennsylvania by tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting.

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