Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Savannah Technical College
Associate's Degree
savannahtech.eduAnalysis
Technical drafting programs across the country typically produce first-year earnings around $45,400—a solid starting point for a two-year degree—and Savannah Tech's program likely follows this pattern. With estimated debt of roughly $13,000, graduates would owe about 29 cents for every dollar they earn in year one, a manageable ratio that suggests the credential should pay for itself relatively quickly. For context, similar two-year technical programs nationally report debt loads in this same range, making this a fairly standard investment profile for an associate degree in a skilled trade.
Georgia has 17 schools offering drafting and design programs, though none publish actual graduate outcomes data, making it difficult to assess how Savannah Tech specifically compares to in-state alternatives. The national figures we're working with represent median outcomes across hundreds of programs, so individual school performance varies—some graduates earn substantially more, others less. Given that nearly half of Savannah Tech's students receive Pell grants, the relatively modest debt estimate is encouraging for families concerned about affordability.
The practical takeaway: drafting technicians enter a field with steady demand and clear career paths, and the estimated debt burden here won't likely become overwhelming. However, since these are peer-based projections rather than actual tracked outcomes, prospective students should ask the school's career services office about job placement rates and where recent graduates have landed employment in the Savannah area specifically.
Where Savannah Technical College Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all drafting/design engineering technologies/technicians associates's programs nationally
Compare to Similar Programs Nationally
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians associates's programs at top institutions nationally
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt* | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $3,072 | $45,434* | — | $12,984* | — | |
| $6,270 | $55,893* | $55,521 | —* | — | |
| $25,659 | $55,512* | $63,409 | $20,625* | 0.37 | |
| $5,040 | $54,198* | $53,078 | —* | — | |
| $3,861 | $53,105* | $53,278 | $8,000* | 0.15 | |
| $2,550 | $50,584* | $51,524 | $14,000* | 0.28 | |
| National Median | — | $45,434* | — | $13,250* | 0.29 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with drafting/design engineering technologies/technicians graduates
About This Data
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)
Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Savannah Technical College, approximately 47% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.
Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.
Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.
Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 32 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.