Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Camden County College

A debt load around $13,000 for an associate degree in drafting and design—estimated from similar community college programs—keeps the math straightforward for families. With peer programs typically producing first-year earnings around $45,400, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29 means graduates could theoretically pay off their loans within a few months if they channeled just their earnings into repayment. That's manageable territory, especially for a technical credential that can lead to stable work in manufacturing, architecture, or engineering firms.

The challenge here is that we're working entirely with estimates because Camden County's graduate sample is too small for the Department of Education to publish actual outcomes. While the national data for drafting programs is reasonably consistent—median earnings fall within a tight $4,000 range across the country—there's no way to know if this specific program connects students to the local job market as effectively as its peers. New Jersey has only four schools offering this degree, and none have reported data, which suggests either small enrollment across the board or recent program launches.

For families considering this path, the estimated numbers suggest reasonable upside if your child actually completes the degree and finds work in the field. But given the data gaps, it's worth investigating Camden County's job placement track record and employer connections directly—because unlike the debt estimate, which will be roughly accurate, earnings depend entirely on whether graduates land relevant jobs.