Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Vincennes University

A debt load around $13,000 for an associate's degree that leads to mid-$40,000s earnings represents solid technical training math. Based on comparable drafting and design programs nationally, graduates can expect to earn roughly 3.5 times their debt in their first year—a ratio that suggests this credential pays for itself relatively quickly. The estimated figures here come from similar two-year engineering technology programs across the country, since Vincennes doesn't have enough recent graduates in this specific track to report publicly.

Indiana's drafting programs tend to produce slightly lower first-year earnings than the national average—the state median sits around $41,500 compared to $45,400 nationally. If Vincennes tracks closer to the state pattern, you're looking at earnings that still comfortably exceed the debt but with less margin than the national estimate suggests. The one Indiana school with reported data (Ivy Tech) shows graduates earning that lower state-typical figure, which provides useful context for expectations.

The relatively low Pell grant percentage at Vincennes (just 9% of students) suggests this is either a particularly affordable option or draws from families with more resources—but either way, the modest debt estimate aligns with a program that shouldn't require excessive borrowing. For parents weighing this path, the key question is whether your student wants hands-on technical work: if they do, the financial fundamentals look reasonable even accounting for the estimation uncertainty.