Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Des Moines Area Community College

Des Moines Area Community College's drafting program lands right at the state median for earnings—$44,886 in the first year—which puts it in the 60th percentile among Iowa's nine drafting programs. That's a solid middle-of-the-pack position in-state, though it trails the national median by about $500. The debt load of just under $13,000 translates to a comfortable 0.29 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe roughly three months' salary. That's manageable territory for a technical associate degree.

The challenge here is the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates—which makes these numbers less reliable than programs with larger cohorts. Year-to-year fluctuations could significantly shift these figures. Still, the basic economics make sense: you're investing roughly $13,000 to access a field that starts in the mid-$40s, which is reasonable for technical work that doesn't require a bachelor's degree.

For parents weighing this option, the key question is whether their student has a genuine interest in CAD work and technical drawing. The numbers aren't spectacular, but they're not problematic either. If your child is drawn to this kind of precise, computer-aided design work, this program offers a low-debt entry point into a stable field without the four-year commitment.