Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Minnesota State College Southeast

Similar drafting and design programs across Minnesota suggest first-year earnings around $47,500 against roughly $13,600 in debt—a 0.29 ratio that translates to manageable monthly payments even on entry-level technical salaries. Minnesota's drafting programs cluster tightly around the national median, with the state's four comparable programs all landing within a few thousand dollars of each other, indicating relatively stable regional demand for these skills.

The challenge here is knowing where this specific program fits within that range. The top drafting program in the state (Dunwoody) produces graduates earning $8,000 more in their first year, while the lowest sits about $2,500 below the state median. Without actual outcome data from Minnesota State College Southeast, you're essentially betting on whether this program performs closer to Hennepin Tech's mid-pack results or St Cloud Tech's below-average outcomes. The debt estimate appears reasonable—actually slightly lower than the state median—but your child's actual borrowing could vary significantly based on their specific financial aid package.

If your student has strong connections to employers in southeastern Minnesota or already has technical aptitude that could position them for the higher end of this earnings range, the fundamentals look sound. But if they're choosing between multiple drafting programs, prioritize those with transparent outcome data that can confirm their graduates actually achieve these earnings levels.