Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College's drafting program costs less than you'd expect, but you're getting what you pay for. Graduates earn $35,706 in their first year—nearly $10,000 below the national median for this field and placing this program in just the 5th percentile nationally. The $10,625 in debt is manageable with a 0.30 debt-to-earnings ratio, but the more pressing issue is whether these earnings can support a young adult starting their career.

Here's where it gets interesting: this program actually ranks in the 60th percentile among Mississippi's drafting programs, suggesting the underwhelming outcomes may reflect broader state-level market conditions rather than program-specific weaknesses. With 41% of students receiving Pell grants, many graduates may be from families where even this modest income represents upward mobility. The relatively low debt load means financial risk is contained, which matters when earnings potential is limited.

For Mississippi families who can't afford out-of-state options, this is a pragmatic choice—you're not taking on crushing debt, and you're performing better than most in-state alternatives. But parents should understand their child is entering a field where Mississippi employers simply pay less than the national market. If relocation to higher-paying states is realistic after graduation, that changes the calculation significantly.