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Computer aided design designer education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a computer aided design designer. Computer aided design designers usually study drafting and design, mechanical engineering, or graphic design. 45% of computer aided design designers hold a associate degree, and 41% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 16,249 real computer aided design designer resumes to see exactly what computer aided design designer education sections show.
The most common colleges for computer aided design designers are the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Fashion Institute of Technology.
There are also many online computer aided design designer courses to help get the education required to be a computer aided design designer.
There are certain computer aided design designer certifications that you should consider. These computer aided design designer certifications include Certified Agile Developer (CAD) and Engineer In Training Certification (EIT).
What education do you need to become a computer aided design designer?
What degree do you need to be a computer aided design designer?
- Associate, 45%
- Bachelor's, 41%
- High School Diploma, 4%
- Master's, 4%
- Other Degrees, 6%
What should I major in to become a computer aided design designer?
- Drafting And Design, 34%
- Graphic Design, 8%
- Architecture, 7%
- Other Majors, 40%
Most common colleges for computer aided design designers
| Computer aided design designer common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Fashion Institute of Technology | 13.67% |
| Purdue University | 8.33% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 6.00% |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 5.17% |
| University of Houston | 5.00% |
Best majors for computer aided design designers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drafting And Design | 34.5% |
| 2 | Mechanical Engineering | 10.9% |
| 3 | Graphic Design | 7.8% |
| 4 | Architecture | 6.5% |
| 5 | Business | 4.1% |
Best colleges for computer aided design designers
The best colleges for computer aided design designers are Northwestern University, Rochester Institute of Technology, and University of Pittsburgh.
A computer aided design designer with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for computer aided design designers. 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 computer aided design designers.
1. LeTourneau University
Longview, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$30,210
Enrollment
1,771
2. SUNY College of Technology at Alfred
Alfred, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,570
Enrollment
3,721
3. Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$42,345
Enrollment
12,886
4. Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$12,960
Enrollment
16,157
5. SUNY College of Technology at Delhi
Delhi, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,360
Enrollment
3,142
6. Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$11,788
Enrollment
11,008
7. New York City College of Technology of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,120
Enrollment
16,204
8. Northern Michigan University
Marquette, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$10,729
Enrollment
6,722
9. Siena Heights University
Adrian, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$27,124
Enrollment
2,035
10. Montana State University - Bozeman
Bozeman, MT • Private
In-state tuition
$7,277
Enrollment
14,566
20 best online courses for computer aided design designers
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Top 10 most affordable universities for computer aided design designers
The most affordable schools for computer aided design designers are SUNY Farmingdale, new york city college of technology of the city university of new york, and brigham young university - idaho.
If the best universities for computer aided design designers 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 computer aided design designers.
1. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
2. New York City College of Technology of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,120
Cost of attendance
13,997
3. Brigham Young University - Idaho
Rexburg, ID • Private
In-state tuition
$4,118
Cost of attendance
12,223
4. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Tifton, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$3,503
Cost of attendance
12,843
5. SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Utica, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,238
Cost of attendance
21,567
6. New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM • Private
In-state tuition
$6,686
Cost of attendance
17,885
7. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Cost of attendance
22,430
8. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Aguadilla
Aguadilla, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$5,902
Cost of attendance
13,284
9. Tarleton State University
Stephenville, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$7,292
Cost of attendance
20,387
10. Inter American University of Puerto Rico San German
San German, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$5,940
Cost of attendance
14,322
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for computer aided design designers
The hardest universities for computer aided design designers to get into are Northwestern University, Rochester Institute of Technology, and University of Pittsburgh.
Some great schools for computer aided design designers 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 computer aided design designers 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. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, NY • Private
Admissions rate
66%
SAT average
1,319
3. University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
59%
SAT average
1,367
4. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
Admissions rate
58%
SAT average
1,309
5. LeTourneau University
Longview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
46%
SAT average
1,205
6. Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions rate
63%
SAT average
1,295
7. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
8. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
9. SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Utica, NY • Private
Admissions rate
65%
SAT average
1,176
10. University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown
Johnstown, PA • Private
Admissions rate
65%
SAT average
1,120
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for computer aided design designers
The easiest schools for computer aided design designers to get into are Ferris State University, oregon institute of technology, and eastern michigan university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a computer aided design designer 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 computer aided design designers.
1. Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
1,070
2. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
3. Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI • Private
Admissions rate
76%
SAT average
1,025
4. Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
1,111
5. McPherson College
McPherson, KS • Private
Admissions rate
77%
SAT average
1,084
6. Purdue University Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, IN • Private
Admissions rate
97%
SAT average
1,080
7. Cleveland State University
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,111
8. SUNY College of Technology at Delhi
Delhi, NY • Private
Admissions rate
64%
SAT average
1,011
9. University of Toledo
Toledo, OH • Private
Admissions rate
94%
SAT average
1,145
10. SUNY College of Agriculture & Technology at Morrisville
Morrisville, NY • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
955
Average computer aided design designer salary by education level
| Computer aided design designer education level | Computer aided design designer salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $60,084 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $64,787 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $62,232 |
Computer aided design designer education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common architecture and engineering questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025