Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians at University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29 is solid territory for a technical associate's degree, though keep in mind these figures come from national peer programs rather than Pulaski Tech's specific outcomes. Comparable drafting and design technology programs across the country suggest first-year earnings around $45,000 against roughly $13,000 in debt—numbers that point to a manageable financial start for graduates entering CAD work, architectural drafting, or engineering support roles.

The challenge here is uncertainty. With more than half of Pulaski Tech's students receiving Pell grants, affordability matters enormously, yet we can't see how this particular program's graduates actually fare. The national benchmarks suggest drafting programs produce fairly consistent outcomes—the gap between median and 75th percentile earnings is only about $4,000—but Arkansas has six schools offering this credential, and none have published graduate data. That could mean small cohorts at each school, or it could signal something else about the local market for these skills.

What parents need to know: The estimated numbers look reasonable for a two-year technical degree, especially if your student can keep actual borrowing near or below that $13,000 mark. But before committing, talk to the program about where recent graduates actually landed jobs and what they're earning. In a field this applied, employment connections matter as much as the credential itself.