Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Texas State Technical College

Texas State Technical College's drafting program delivers graduates into middle-income technical work, but they're starting roughly $2,000 below what their peers earn at other Texas schools. At $43,742 in first-year earnings, graduates land in the 40th percentile statewide—meaning 60% of drafting programs in Texas produce better-earning graduates. Nearby Austin Community College's program, for instance, launches graduates at $50,584. The debt load of $13,500 is manageable with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31, but it's worth noting that students are taking on typical debt for below-typical returns.

The earnings trajectory offers little compensation for the modest start. After four years, median pay reaches just $44,547—barely 2% growth and still trailing both state and national averages. This stagnation means graduates don't grow into higher earnings through experience the way many technical workers do.

For families weighing technical education options in Texas, this program's value depends heavily on location constraints. If your child can access Austin or Houston's community college systems, those programs deliver measurably stronger financial outcomes. If TSTC-Waco offers significant geographic or logistical advantages, the debt burden won't be crushing, but expect your graduate to earn solidly average wages rather than the higher pay that technical skills often command.