Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians at San Antonio College

Based on comparable drafting and design programs in Texas, this associate's degree suggests a solid entry point into technical design work, with estimated first-year earnings around $45,500 and typical debt of $13,500. That 0.30 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates would owe roughly three months' salary—manageable for a two-year credential that leads to skilled technical employment. Similar programs across Texas cluster tightly around this earnings figure, though Austin Community College's graduates earn notably more at about $50,600.

What matters here is whether the estimation tells the full story. The Department of Education suppressed this program's actual outcomes because too few graduates reported data, so we're relying on those three comparable Texas programs to project what San Antonio College students might earn. If this program maintains smaller class sizes or serves a different student population than its peers, actual outcomes could vary. The national median of $45,400 aligns closely with the Texas estimate, suggesting the projection is reasonable, but it's still a projection.

For parents, the practical question is whether $45,500 in technical design work—assuming that estimate holds—justifies the investment. At that salary level with minimal debt, graduates should be able to manage payments while building careers in architecture firms, engineering companies, or manufacturing. Just recognize you're betting on peer program performance, not this school's track record.