Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Shawnee State University

The estimated $27,000 debt burden for this bachelor's program sits comfortably below the $60,000 in first-year earnings that similar drafting and design technology programs nationally produce. That 0.45 debt-to-earnings ratio—meaning graduates owe less than half their projected annual salary—positions this as a manageable investment compared to many bachelor's degrees. With Shawnee State serving a student body where 35% receive Pell grants, the relatively modest debt load matters even more for families counting every dollar.

What's challenging here is that Ohio has only one bachelor's program in this field, making state-level comparisons impossible. The national estimates suggest solid technical career earnings—$60,000 puts drafting and design technology well above many liberal arts degrees—but we're working entirely from peer program data across the country. These similar programs could be in vastly different labor markets, from booming metro areas to rural regions like Portsmouth, where local engineering and manufacturing opportunities will ultimately determine actual outcomes.

The fundamentals look reasonable: technical skills, manageable debt, and middle-class starting pay. But parents should verify that Portsmouth and southeastern Ohio actually have employers hiring drafting technicians at these salary levels. Check whether local graduates are finding work in the region or need to relocate, and talk to the program about where their recent completers actually landed jobs. The estimated numbers suggest viability, but local employment reality will determine whether this investment pays off.