Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies at City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College
IL · Associate's Degree · CIP 15.13
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies degree from City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College earn a median salary of $53,343 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in IL, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $58,108. The degree typically pays for itself in 17.4 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$37,187
Typical Career
$53,343
Top Performers
$68,011
Estimated break-even: 17.4 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$356
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,445. Most students can comfortably afford about a $356 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.4x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.7x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Illinois buys what costs $0.92 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Manufacturing, Administrative & Support Services.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$58,108
Nominal: $53,343 in Illinois (COL 91.8% of national avg) · 8.9% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $30,804 | $42,946 | $54,615 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $37,187 | $53,343 | $68,011 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $31,416 | $46,435 | $78,137 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $53,343 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in IL, which has a cost-of-living index of 91.8% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $53,343 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9180)
= $58,108 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The program's graduates predominantly enter the Health Care & Social Assistance sectors, with 59.8% of them finding employment in this field. This concentration suggests a strong demand for drafting and design skills within the health care industry. Considering the estimated break-even point of approximately 10.9 years compared to a high school-only path, the return on investment appears favorable. The combination of solid earnings growth and industry demand indicates that pursuing a degree in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies can be a worthwhile career choice for students.
Compare with Another School
See how the Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies degree at City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Ready to apply?
Start your application for Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies at City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College.
Explore More
Other Degrees at City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.