Design Engineering Technologies at Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, IN · Public · Associate Degree · Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians

with 54,926 students enrolled in Indianapolis, IN.

Program Analysis

Ivy Tech Community College's Design Engineering Technologies program produces graduates earning $41,467/yr — within striking distance of the $42,040 national average for this trade.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 50.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Design Engineering Technologies programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Design Engineering Technologies's career paths, with 40% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 17% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $10,990 in median debt clears fast against $41,467 in annual earnings.

At #22 of 45 Design Engineering Technologies programs, Ivy Tech Community College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $41,467 to $50,507 over five years — a 22% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

Design Engineering Technologies offers 15 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

51 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
47
Low End
51
Score
54
High End
Earnings $41,467/yr (-1% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (60% shielded)
Job Market Medium (16,300 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$523K
5.1% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
53.2x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
4 of 4
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$9,824
Out-of-state: $18,930
Median Debt at Graduation
$10,990
3.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$50,507
22% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Design Engineering Technologies graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Electrical and electronics drafters $73,720 -5.6% 43%
Mechanical drafters $68,510 -6.5% 50%
Architectural and civil drafters $64,280 +4.1% 46%
Electrical and electronics drafters
$73,720
-5.6% growth 43% AI-proof
Mechanical drafters
$68,510
-6.5% growth 50% AI-proof
Architectural and civil drafters
$64,280
+4.1% growth 46% AI-proof

View all 4 career paths with full salary data →

About Design Engineering Technologies Careers

Your career begins by transforming an engineer's rough sketch into a precise digital model. As an architectural drafter, you might spend your day in an office using software like Revit to create detailed blueprints for a new office building, then visit the construction site to verify measurements. As a mechanical drafter, you’d use SolidWorks to model a complex machine part, ensuring every tolerance is perfect for manufacturing.

Read the full Design Engineering Technologies career guide →

Compare & Explore

Design Engineering Technologies Overview

Design Engineering Technologies at Other Schools

Other Majors at Ivy Tech Community College

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Ivy Tech Community College's Design Engineering Technologies program score?
This program scores 51/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Design Engineering Technologies graduates.
How vulnerable is Design Engineering Technologies to AI automation?
With 40% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $433,836 in decade earnings vs $522,882 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
How affordable is Design Engineering Technologies at Ivy Tech Community College?
Median debt of just $10,990 against $41,467/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Can I learn Design Engineering Technologies through an apprenticeship instead?
There are 15 registered apprenticeships connected to Design Engineering Technologies occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →