Architectural Drafter Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an architectural drafter. Architectural drafters usually study drafting and design, architecture, or architectural technology. 45% of architectural drafters hold a associate degree, and 41% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 1,824 real architectural drafter resumes to see exactly what architectural drafter education sections show.

The most common colleges for architectural drafters are the City College of New York of the City University of New York, The and the City College of New York of the City University of New York, The.

There are also many online architectural drafter courses to help get the education required to be an architectural drafter.

There are certain architectural drafter certifications that you should consider. These architectural drafter certifications include Certified Agile Developer (CAD) and Certified Construction Manager (CCM).

What education do you need to become an architectural drafter?

What degree do you need to be an architectural drafter?

The most common degree for architectural drafters is associate degree, with 45% of architectural drafters earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 41% and bachelor's degree degree at 5%.
  • Associate, 45%
  • Bachelor's, 41%
  • Master's, 5%
  • Diploma, 4%
  • Other Degrees, 5%

What should I major in to become an architectural drafter?

You should major in drafting and design to become an architectural drafter. 33% of architectural drafters major in drafting and design. Other common majors for an architectural drafter include architecture and architectural technology.

Most common colleges for architectural drafters

Architectural drafters often get their degrees at City College of New York of the City University of New York, The, Wentworth Institute of Technology, and New York Institute of Technology. Here are the most common colleges for architectural drafters in the US based on their resumes.
Architectural Drafter Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
City College of New York of the City University of New York, The11.40%
Wentworth Institute of Technology7.02%
New York Institute of Technology7.02%
University of Illinois at Chicago6.14%
Washington State University6.14%

Best majors for architectural drafters

Best colleges for architectural drafters

The best colleges for architectural drafters are Carnegie Mellon University, Tufts University, and Yale University.

An architectural drafter with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for architectural drafters. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become architectural drafters.

1. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,465

Enrollment

6,483

Website

www.cmu.edu/

Address

5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $84,000 per year

Net Price: $32,674 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 17.12%
SAT Average - 1507
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Engineering Technology
Business
Computer Science
Civil Engineering
Graphic Design

2. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago, IL • Private

In-State Tuition

$47,646

Enrollment

2,924

Website

web.iit.edu/

Address

10 W. 35th Street, Chicago, IL 60616

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $60,400 per year

Net Price: $21,917 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 58.18%
SAT Average - 1318
ACT Average - 29
Most Popular Majors
Engineering Technology
Computer Science
Electrical Engineering
Architecture
Civil Engineering

3. SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Alfred, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,570

Enrollment

3,721

Website

www.alfredstate.edu

Address

Huntington Administration Building, Alfred, NY 14802

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $34,600 per year

Net Price: $16,480 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 62.97%
SAT Average - 1071
ACT Average - 22
Most Popular Majors
Engineering Technology
Business
Construction Management
Architectural Engineering Technology
Architecture

4. Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$42,345

Enrollment

12,886

Website

www.rit.edu/

Address

1 Lomb Memorial Dr, Rochester, NY 14623-5603

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $50,600 per year

Net Price: $30,068 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 66.02%
SAT Average - 1319
ACT Average - 30
Most Popular Majors
Engineering Technology
Liberal Arts
Computer Science
Electrical Engineering
Business

5. Ferris State University

Big Rapids, MI • Private

In-State Tuition

$11,788

Enrollment

11,008

Website

www.ferris.edu/

Address

1201 S. State Street, Big Rapids, MI 49307

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $40,300 per year

Net Price: $13,008 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 80.90%
SAT Average - 1070
ACT Average - 23
Most Popular Majors
Engineering Technology
Business
Liberal Arts
Graphic Design
Construction Management

20 best online courses for architectural drafters

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Top 10 most affordable universities for architectural drafters

The most affordable schools for architectural drafters are Florida International University, university of puerto rico - rio piedras campus, and florida atlantic university.

If the best universities for architectural drafters are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for architectural drafters.

1. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,556

Cost of Attendance

19,434

Website

www.fiu.edu

Address

11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $41,500 per year

Net Price: $8,311 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 58.56%
SAT Average - 1185
ACT Average - 25
Most Popular Majors
Business
Engineering Technology
Liberal Arts
English
Civil Engineering

2. University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Campus

San Juan, PR • Private

In-State Tuition

$4,094

Cost of Attendance

11,299

Website

www.uprrp.edu

Address

P. O. Box 23300, San Juan, PR 00931-3300

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $23,600 per year

Net Price: $5,719 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 42.67%

3. Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$4,831

Cost of Attendance

19,559

Website

www.fau.edu/

Address

777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton, FL 33431-0991

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $38,800 per year

Net Price: $9,768 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 59.32%
SAT Average - 1159
ACT Average - 23
Most Popular Majors
Liberal Arts
Business
Engineering Technology
English
Fine Arts

4. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

Tifton, GA • Private

In-State Tuition

$3,503

Cost of Attendance

12,843

Website

https://www.abac.edu

Address

2802 Moore Hwy, Tifton, GA 31793-2601

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $29,100 per year

Net Price: $7,964 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 68.94%
SAT Average - 1032
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Liberal Arts
Fine Arts
Business

5. Louisiana Tech University

Ruston, LA • Private

In-State Tuition

$9,645

Cost of Attendance

20,098

Website

https://www.latech.edu

Address

305 Wisteria, Ruston, LA 71272

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $38,800 per year

Net Price: $9,839 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 63.07%
SAT Average - 1219
ACT Average - 25
Most Popular Majors
Engineering Technology
Business
Computer Science
Engineering
Electrical Engineering

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for architectural drafters

The hardest universities for architectural drafters to get into are Carnegie Mellon University, Tufts University, and Yale University.

Some great schools for architectural drafters are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for architectural drafters based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

17%

SAT Average

1,507

Website

www.cmu.edu/

Address

5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $84,000 per year

Net Price: $32,674 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 17.12%
SAT Average - 1507
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Engineering Technology
Business
Computer Science
Civil Engineering
Graphic Design

2. Tufts University

Medford, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

15%

SAT Average

1,461

Website

https://www.tufts.edu

Address

Ballou Hall, 2nd Floor, Medford, MA 02155

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $56,600 per year

Net Price: $31,485 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 14.62%
SAT Average - 1461
ACT Average - 33
Most Popular Majors
Engineering Technology
Computer Science
Fine Arts
Electrical Engineering
English

3. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

Admissions Rate

6%

SAT Average

1,517

Website

https://www.yale.edu

Address

105 Wall Street, New Haven, CT 06520

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $67,800 per year

Net Price: $18,770 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 6.35%
SAT Average - 1517
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Engineering Technology
Fine Arts
Architecture
English

4. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions Rate

15%

SAT Average

1,506

Website

www.wustl.edu

Address

One Brookings Dr, Saint Louis, MO 63130

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $63,400 per year

Net Price: $27,427 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 15.03%
SAT Average - 1506
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Engineering Technology
Business
Computer Science
Electrical Engineering
Architectural Technology

5. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

5%

SAT Average

1,520

Website

www.harvard.edu

Address

Massachusetts Hall, Cambridge, MA 02138

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,300 per year

Net Price: $15,561 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.73%
SAT Average - 1520
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Engineering Technology
Computer Science
Architectural Technology
English

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for architectural drafters

The easiest schools for architectural drafters to get into are Ferris State University, south dakota state university, and keene state college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an architectural drafter without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for architectural drafters.

1. Ferris State University

Big Rapids, MI • Private

Admissions Rate

81%

SAT Average

1,070

Website

www.ferris.edu/

Address

1201 S. State Street, Big Rapids, MI 49307

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $40,300 per year

Net Price: $13,008 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 80.90%
SAT Average - 1070
ACT Average - 23
Most Popular Majors
Engineering Technology
Business
Liberal Arts
Graphic Design
Construction Management

2. South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD • Private

Admissions Rate

92%

SAT Average

1,149

Website

https://www.sdstate.edu/

Address

Box 2201, Adm 324, Brookings, SD 57007-1898

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $41,100 per year

Net Price: $19,503 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 92.43%
SAT Average - 1149
ACT Average - 23
Most Popular Majors
Engineering Technology
Liberal Arts
Civil Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Architecture

3. Keene State College

Keene, NH • Private

Admissions Rate

81%

SAT Average

1,053

Website

www.keene.edu

Address

229 Main Street, MS 1504, Keene, NH 03435-1504

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $36,100 per year

Net Price: $18,192 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 81.36%
SAT Average - 1053
ACT Average - 21
Most Popular Majors
Engineering Technology
Business
Architecture
English
Graphic Design

4. Portland State University

Portland, OR • Private

Admissions Rate

90%

SAT Average

1,111

Website

www.pdx.edu

Address

724 SW Harrison, Portland, OR 97201

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $38,400 per year

Net Price: $13,856 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 90.20%
SAT Average - 1111
ACT Average - 22
Most Popular Majors
Engineering Technology
Business
Computer Science
Electrical Engineering
Civil Engineering

5. University of Colorado Denver

Denver, CO • Private

Admissions Rate

64%

SAT Average

1,132

Website

www.ucdenver.edu/

Address

13120 E. 19th Ave #C288-18, Aurora, CO 80045

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $48,700 per year

Net Price: $15,446 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 63.63%
SAT Average - 1132
ACT Average - 24
Most Popular Majors
Business
Engineering Technology
Architectural Technology
Fine Arts
Electrical Engineering

Average architectural drafter salary by education level

Architectural drafters with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $53,561 annually. With a Associate degree, architectural drafters earn a median annual income of $52,248 compared to $51,346 for architectural drafters with an High School Diploma degree.
Architectural Drafter education level
ascdesc
Architectural Drafter salary
ascdesc
High School Diploma or Less$51,346
Bachelor's Degree$53,561
Some College/ Associate Degree$52,248

Architectural Drafter Education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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