Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology

The small sample size here makes these numbers unreliable, but what we can see raises questions about Thaddeus Stevens' drafting program. Starting at $36,000—roughly $7,000 below Pennsylvania's median and $9,000 below the national average—this ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally for drafting programs. Even four years out, graduates earn $46,000, barely reaching what peers at other Pennsylvania schools make in year one.

The $12,000 debt load is reasonable and below both state and national averages, which provides some cushion. Strong 28% earnings growth suggests graduates develop marketable skills over time. But here's the challenge: nearby alternatives like YTI Career Institute and Pennsylvania College of Technology show first-year earnings nearly $10,000 higher, meaning students there recoup costs faster and build wealth sooner. Given that drafting is a field where technical credentials matter more than institutional prestige, those earnings gaps are hard to justify.

If your child is set on this field, compare acceptance offers carefully. Unless Thaddeus Stevens provides specialized training or connections that would explain the earnings lag, programs with stronger placement outcomes would likely deliver better return on the same two years of study.