Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Southern Utah University

Comparable drafting programs in Utah show significantly stronger earning potential than national peers—Utah Valley University's graduates earn $55,893 their first year, about $10,000 more than the national median of $45,434. Southern Utah's program likely falls somewhere in this range, though without school-specific data, it's impossible to know whether Cedar City graduates match the state's stronger trajectory or track closer to national averages.

The estimated debt of roughly $13,000 is reasonable for an associate's degree, creating a manageable burden if earnings align anywhere near state levels. A 0.29 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests this program won't saddle graduates with crushing payments—even at the conservative national estimate of $45,434. However, that $10,000 gap between Utah's median and the national baseline matters considerably over a career. If SUU's outcomes lean toward the lower end, graduates face a tougher financial picture than they would at Utah Valley, where the career payoff is more clearly established.

The real question is whether Southern Utah's smaller program (hence the suppressed data) delivers Utah-level outcomes or something closer to the national average. With only five schools offering this program statewide, your options are limited. If you're already in Cedar City and need an accessible associate's degree with technical skills, this could work—but if proximity isn't a constraint, Utah Valley's documented outcomes make it the safer bet.