Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Frederick Community College

A $13,000 debt load for a technical credential that typically leads to $45,000 first-year earnings represents a solid financial foundation, assuming Frederick Community College's outcomes track with national patterns for drafting programs. That 0.29 debt-to-earnings ratio—meaning graduates would owe roughly three months of their first year's salary—sits comfortably within manageable territory for an associate degree in a skilled trade.

The challenge here is uncertainty. These figures come from national medians across similar drafting programs, not from Frederick's actual graduate outcomes, which the Department of Education suppresses when sample sizes are too small. Nine Maryland schools offer this credential, but none have public data either, making it difficult to assess whether Frederick specifically connects students to the DMV area's engineering firms, defense contractors, and construction companies that typically hire CAD technicians. The broader national data suggests drafting programs deliver consistent technical training that translates to employment, but local program quality and industry connections matter enormously in trades education.

For parents, the math pencils out if this program delivers what peer institutions typically achieve. The modest debt burden means your student isn't gambling their financial future, but you'll want to dig into Frederick's job placement track record, software training offerings (AutoCAD, Revit, SolidWorks), and relationships with local employers before committing.