Drafting & Design Technology at Murray State University

Murray, KY · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
46 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
47
Optimistic
46
Base Case
42
Pessimistic
Earnings $53,085/yr (-7% vs median)
AI Risk High (40% exposed)
Job Market Medium (16,300 openings/yr)
ROI 14.0x earnings multiple (7.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #6 of 9 Design Engineering Technologies programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Drafting & Design Technology graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $550K $545K $505K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.2x 14.0x 13.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.1x 7.0x 6.5x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 36%
DegreeOutlook Score 47 46 42
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$38,832
Out-of-state: $77,808 (7.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$36,484
6% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,500
5.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,363
Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $53,085/yr, roughly in line with the $56,836 national median for Drafting & Design Technology. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 14.0x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 40% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $53,085 far exceeding the $22,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

With only 9 programs offering Drafting & Design Technology nationally, this is a niche field. Murray State University ranks #6 among them.

About Murray State University

Murray State University accepts 86% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 6,646 students in Murray, KY.

See all programs and financial aid at Murray State University →

Top Career Paths

Electrical and electronics drafters $73,720/yr
Mechanical drafters $68,510/yr
Architectural and civil drafters $64,280/yr
View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Drafting & Design Technology at Other Schools

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Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Murray State University's Drafting & Design Technology program score?
This program scores 46/100 — on the lower end for Drafting & Design Technology. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Drafting & Design Technology to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Drafting & Design Technology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 40% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →