Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Academy of Art University

At nearly $49,000 in first-year earnings, Academy of Art University's drafting and design technology program lands squarely at California's median for this degree—but here's the catch: you're taking on $45,000 in debt for outcomes that rank in just the 16th percentile nationally. The state comparison looks better mainly because California has only three schools offering this bachelor's program, creating a thin benchmark. Nationally, the typical graduate earns $60,000 with half the debt load ($27,000), making this program's financial profile notably weaker than most alternatives.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.92 means your child would owe nearly a full year's salary right out of the gate. For a drafting technician role—work that often doesn't require a four-year degree—that's a steep entry cost. The 42% Pell grant rate suggests many families here are stretching financially to afford this credential, and the returns don't justify that stretch when compared to programs at state schools or technical colleges that lead to similar work.

If your child is set on drafting and design, explore whether an associate's degree or certificate program might deliver comparable job placement at a fraction of the cost. The bachelor's premium isn't evident in these earnings figures, and that $45,000 debt burden will meaningfully constrain early-career financial flexibility.