Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Weber State University

Weber State's drafting and design program faces stiff in-state competition. Utah Valley University reports first-year earnings of $55,893 for similar graduates—more than $10,000 higher than what peer programs nationally suggest Weber State students might earn. That $45,434 estimated starting salary, based on comparable associate programs nationwide, puts this program at the national median but well below what Utah's tech-heavy job market typically pays drafting technicians.

The estimated debt load of roughly $13,000 creates a manageable 0.29 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates would owe less than three months' salary. That's objectively reasonable. But the earnings gap with nearby competitors matters more than the debt picture here. If your child can access Utah Valley's program instead—which sits just 40 miles south in Provo—the data suggests they'd likely start their career earning substantially more, even though both schools operate in the same state job market.

The key question becomes whether Weber State offers something beyond earnings that justifies the difference: location convenience, specific industry connections, or a program structure that better fits your child's situation. Without actual outcomes data for Weber State's program, you're making this decision based on what happens at other schools, not what this program has demonstrably delivered for its own graduates.