by our College Data Analytics TeamArchitectural Drafting & Architectural CAD/CADD was the 527th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 1,157 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 8.0% reduction in architectural drafting and architectural CAD/CADD degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 1,249.
Our 2023 Best Architectural Drafting & Architectural CAD/CADD Schools ranking analyzes 19 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for architectural drafting and architectural CAD/CADD students. Explore this or one of our many other custom architectural drafting and architectural CAD/CADD rankings further below.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems has been highlighted as one of the most essential skills for careers related to architectural drafting and architectural CAD/CADD. Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times and understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents are all required skills for careers related to this major.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Once you obtain your degree, additional architectural drafting and architectural CAD/CADD certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are various different levels of architectural drafting and architectural CAD/CADD degrees. You can get anything from a in architectural drafting and architectural CAD/CADD to the highest architectural drafting and architectural CAD/CADD degree, a . Depending on the architectural drafting and architectural CAD/CADD degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to architectural drafting and architectural CAD/CADD, with approximately 54.6% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for architectural drafting and architectural CAD/CADD workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 52.8% |
| Master’s Degree | 25.0% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 17.3% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 0.9% |
| High School Diploma | 0.4% |
Most workers in architectural drafting and architectural CAD/CADD have at least a bachelor's degree. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in architectural drafting and architectural CAD/CADD careers have.
This of course varies depending on which architectural drafting and architectural CAD/CADD career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your architectural drafting and architectural CAD/CADD degree? Architectural Drafting & Architectural CAD/CADD careers are expected to grow 8.1% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to architectural drafting and architectural CAD/CADD.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | 107,700 | 8.1% |
As you might expect, salaries for architectural drafting and architectural CAD/CADD graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for architectural drafting and architectural CAD/CADD graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers architectural drafting and architectural CAD/CADD grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $56,700 |
With over 221 different architectural drafting and architectural CAD/CADD degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased architectural drafting and architectural CAD/CADD school rankings to help you with this.
Architectural Drafting & Architectural CAD/CADD is one of 7 different types of Drafting & Design Engineering Technology programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Drafting & Design Technology | 4,232 |
| CAD/CADD Drafting &/or Design Technology | 2,270 |
| Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD | 1,082 |
| Civil Drafting & Civil Engineering CAD/CADD | 86 |
| Other Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies | 70 |
View All Architectural Drafting and Architectural CAD/CADD Related Majors >
