Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies at Lamar Institute of Technology
TX · Associate's Degree · CIP 15.13
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies degree from Lamar Institute of Technology earn a median salary of $73,791 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in TX, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $80,121. The degree typically pays for itself in 6 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
$57,643
Typical Career
$73,791
Top Performers
$95,510
Estimated break-even: 6 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$492
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $6,149. Most students can comfortably afford about a $492 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.9x more than the average US high school graduate and 1.0x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Texas buys what costs $0.92 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Manufacturing, Health Care & Social Assistance, Professional, Scientific & Technical 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
$80,121
Nominal: $73,791 in Texas (COL 92.1% of national avg) · 8.6% 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 | $36,580 | $48,943 | $62,455 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $57,643 | $73,791 | $95,510 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $71,406 | $100,908 | $127,647 |
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 $73,791 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in TX, which has a cost-of-living index of 92.1% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $73,791 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9210)
= $80,121 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The program prepares students for careers primarily in the Health Care & Social Assistance and Manufacturing sectors, with 59.7% and 27.3% of graduates entering these fields, respectively. The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is approximately six years, suggesting a favorable return on investment. Overall, the combination of strong earnings potential and diverse industry opportunities indicates that pursuing a degree in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies at Lamar Institute of Technology can be a sound career choice.
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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.