Tool design drafter education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a tool design drafter. Tool design drafters usually study drafting and design, mechanical engineering, or business. 70% of tool design drafters hold a associate degree, and 26% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 46 real tool design drafter resumes to see exactly what tool design drafter education sections show.

The most common colleges for tool design drafters are the Baker College and the Baker College.

There are also many online tool design drafter courses to help get the education required to be a tool design drafter.

What education do you need to become a tool design drafter?

What degree do you need to be a tool design drafter?

The most common degree for tool design drafters is associate degree, with 70% of tool design drafters earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 26% and bachelor's degree degree at 4%.

Associate, 70%

Bachelor's, 26%

Master's, 4%

What should I major in to become a tool design drafter?

You should major in drafting and design to become a tool design drafter. 31% of tool design drafters major in drafting and design. Other common majors for a tool design drafter include mechanical engineering and business.

Drafting And Design, 31%

Mechanical Engineering, 13%

Business, 6%

Graphic Design, 6%

Other Majors, 44%

Most common colleges for tool design drafters

Tool design drafters often get their degrees at Baker College, SUNY College at Oswego, and New England Institute of Technology. Here are the most common colleges for tool design drafters in the US based on their resumes.

Tool design drafter common college	Percentages
Baker College	14.29%
SUNY College at Oswego	7.14%
New England Institute of Technology	7.14%
California College-San Diego	7.14%
University of Akron	7.14%

Show more common tool design drafter colleges

Best majors for tool design drafters

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Drafting And Design	31.3%
2	Mechanical Engineering	12.5%
3	Business	6.3%
4	Graphic Design	6.3%
5	Industrial Technology	6.3%

Show more common tool design drafter majors

Best colleges for tool design drafters

The best colleges for tool design drafters are Northwestern University, Carnegie Mellon University, and Stanford University.

A tool design 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 tool design 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 tool design drafters.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

2. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,465

Enrollment

6,483

3. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

4. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$12,424

Enrollment

15,201

5. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

6. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

7. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

8. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

9. University of Dayton

Dayton, OH • Private

In-state tuition

$42,900

Enrollment

8,508

10. Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$42,345

Enrollment

12,886

20 best online courses for tool design drafters

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Top 10 most affordable universities for tool design drafters

The most affordable schools for tool design drafters are California State University - Long Beach, suny farmingdale, and brigham young university.

If the best universities for tool design 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 tool design drafters.

1. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

2. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

3. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

4. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

5. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Pomona, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,353

Cost of attendance

21,302

6. California State University - Northridge

Northridge, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,893

Cost of attendance

18,870

7. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

8. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

9. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

10. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,238

Cost of attendance

21,567

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for tool design drafters

The hardest universities for tool design drafters to get into are Northwestern University, Carnegie Mellon University, and Stanford University.

Some great schools for tool design 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 tool design 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. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,508

2. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

3. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,497

4. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

5. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

6. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

7. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,465

8. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

9. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

10. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for tool design drafters

The easiest schools for tool design drafters to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, oregon institute of technology, and the university of texas at el paso.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a tool design 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 tool design drafters.

1. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

2. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

3. The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,035

4. Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, MN • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

1,086

5. Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi, TX • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,068

6. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

7. Ferris State University

Big Rapids, MI • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

1,070

8. Curry College

Milton, MA • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,026

9. Pennsylvania State University - Altoona

Altoona, PA • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,094

10. San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,054

Average tool design drafter salary by education level

Tool design drafters with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $64,913 annually. With a Associate degree, tool design drafters earn a median annual income of $62,743 compared to $60,909 for tool design drafters with an High School Diploma degree.

Tool design drafter education level	Tool design drafter salary
High School Diploma or Less	$60,909
Bachelor's Degree	$64,913
Some College/ Associate Degree	$62,743

Tool design drafter education FAQs

What is the best college for Tool Design Drafters?

Have more questions? See all answers to common architecture and engineering questions.

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Updated January 8, 2025

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.

Updated January 8, 2025

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