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AutoCAD and drafting courses in Pennsylvania

13 CAD and drafting programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

9 schools offer these drafting programs, and Pennsylvania has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Drafters use computer-aided design (CAD) software to turn the designs of engineers and architects into technical drawings. Most complete an associate degree in drafting at a community college or technical school, about two years full time, while some earn a certificate or diploma that usually takes less time; certification isn't required.1

In Pennsylvania, all 13 programs ask for a high school diploma or equivalent.

By kind, the 13 programs here are drafting and design (associate degree, 4 programs), AutoCAD course (3 programs), drafting and design certificate or diploma (3 programs), SolidWorks, Revit and other CAD software course (2 programs), and 1 more of one other kind.

See the 13 programs

How much do CAD and drafting courses cost in Pennsylvania?

Certificates and short courses (8 programs)
$798 to $7,793most of them, usually 5 to 38 weeks long
Two-year degrees (5 programs)
$14,420 to $26,194most of them, usually 68 to 77 weeks long

What you pay yourself for the whole program, as the schools report it. "Most" is the middle half of the programs with a price.

In the typical program

Finished the program
Not enough data
3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later
Left out
Pennsylvania's rates sit far below every other state's
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
1 program reports it; a typical figure needs 5
Length
8 to 68 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Pennsylvania may also offer CAD and drafting courses. How these figures are made

Are there free CAD and drafting courses in Pennsylvania?

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 13 CAD and drafting programs in Pennsylvania approved for WIOA funding

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13 programs

  • Drafting and design (associate degree)HybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Computer Aided Drafting

    Pittsburgh Technical College Inc

    Oakdale

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Pittsburgh Technical College Inc, OakdaleDrafting and design (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$44,300
    Price if you pay yourself$52,034
    School website, Computer Aided Drafting at Pittsburgh Technical College Inc
    More details about Computer Aided Drafting at Pittsburgh Technical College Inc
    Finished
    93%
    Working at 6 months
    Left out
    Earned in a quarter
    $11,077
    Length
    60 weeks, 26 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $10,414
    Students counted
    75
    Earned a year, estimated
    $44,300
    Price if you pay yourself
    $52,034
    School website, Computer Aided Drafting at Pittsburgh Technical College Inc

  • Drafting and design (associate degree)HybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Structural Engineering Technology AS

    Harrisburg Area Community College

    Harrisburg

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Harrisburg Area Community College, HarrisburgDrafting and design (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$15,326
    Program website, Structural Engineering Technology AS at Harrisburg Area Community College
    More details about Structural Engineering Technology AS at Harrisburg Area Community College
    Finished
    100%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    68 weeks, 15 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $2,285
    Students counted
    26
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $15,326
    Program website, Structural Engineering Technology AS at Harrisburg Area Community College

  • Drafting and design (associate degree)OnlineHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Computer Aided Drafting & Design

    Penn Commercial Inc.

    Based in Washington, PA

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Penn Commercial Inc., based in Washington, PADrafting and design (associate degree) · Accredited schoolOnline · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$26,194
    More details about Computer Aided Drafting & Design at Penn Commercial Inc.
    Finished
    67%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    72 weeks, 32 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $5,215
    Students counted
    14
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $26,194

  • SolidWorks, Revit and other CAD software courseOnlineHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Revit

    O S Johnson Technical Institute Inc

    Based in Scranton, PA

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    O S Johnson Technical Institute Inc, based in Scranton, PASolidWorks, Revit and other CAD software course · Accredited schoolOnline · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$300
    School website, Revit at O S Johnson Technical Institute Inc
    More details about Revit at O S Johnson Technical Institute Inc
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    2 weeks, 8 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $300
    School website, Revit at O S Johnson Technical Institute Inc

  • SolidWorks, Revit and other CAD software courseOnlineHigh school diploma or equivalent

    SolidWorks

    Middle Bucks Institute Of

    Based in Jamison, PA

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Middle Bucks Institute Of, based in Jamison, PASolidWorks, Revit and other CAD software courseOnline · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$495
    Program website, SolidWorks at Middle Bucks Institute Of
    More details about SolidWorks at Middle Bucks Institute Of
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    10 weeks, 3 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $495
    Program website, SolidWorks at Middle Bucks Institute Of

  • AutoCAD courseHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    AutoCAD Level 2 Training

    Pennsylvania State University

    Dallas

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Pennsylvania State University, DallasAutoCAD course · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$899
    Program website, AutoCAD Level 2 Training at Pennsylvania State University
    More details about AutoCAD Level 2 Training at Pennsylvania State University
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    2 weeks, 16 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $40
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $899
    Program website, AutoCAD Level 2 Training at Pennsylvania State University

  • AutoCAD courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    AutoCAD Level 3 Training

    Pennsylvania State University

    Dallas

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Pennsylvania State University, DallasAutoCAD course · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$1,199
    Program website, AutoCAD Level 3 Training at Pennsylvania State University
    More details about AutoCAD Level 3 Training at Pennsylvania State University
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    6 weeks, 8 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $40
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $1,199
    Program website, AutoCAD Level 3 Training at Pennsylvania State University

  • AutoCAD courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    AutoCAD Level 1 Training

    Pennsylvania State University

    Dallas

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Pennsylvania State University, DallasAutoCAD course · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$1,599
    Program website, AutoCAD Level 1 Training at Pennsylvania State University
    More details about AutoCAD Level 1 Training at Pennsylvania State University
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    8 weeks, 8 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $40
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $1,599
    Program website, AutoCAD Level 1 Training at Pennsylvania State University

  • Drafting and design certificate or diplomaHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Structural Engineering Technology Certificate

    Harrisburg Area Community College

    Harrisburg

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Harrisburg Area Community College, HarrisburgDrafting and design certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$7,558
    Program website, Structural Engineering Technology Certificate at Harrisburg Area Community College
    More details about Structural Engineering Technology Certificate at Harrisburg Area Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    40 weeks, 12 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,200
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $7,558
    Program website, Structural Engineering Technology Certificate at Harrisburg Area Community College

  • Drafting and design certificate or diplomaOnlineHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Pre-Engineering Drafting & Design

    Somerset County Technology Center

    Based in Somerset, PA

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Somerset County Technology Center, based in Somerset, PADrafting and design certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolOnline · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$8,500
    More details about Pre-Engineering Drafting & Design at Somerset County Technology Center
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    38 weeks, 30 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $642
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $8,500

  • Architectural drafting (associate degree)OnlineHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Architectural/Drafting and Design AAS

    Westmoreland County

    Based in Youngwood, PA

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Westmoreland County, based in Youngwood, PAArchitectural drafting (associate degree) · Accredited schoolOnline · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$13,580
    Program website, Architectural/Drafting and Design AAS at Westmoreland County
    More details about Architectural/Drafting and Design AAS at Westmoreland County
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    77 weeks, 10 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $3,560
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $13,580
    Program website, Architectural/Drafting and Design AAS at Westmoreland County

  • Drafting and design certificate or diplomaOnlineHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Engineering Drafting & Design (1080 Hours)

    Lehigh Career & Technical Institute

    Based in Schnecksville, PA

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Lehigh Career & Technical Institute, based in Schnecksville, PADrafting and design certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolOnline · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$14,300
    Program website, Engineering Drafting & Design (1080 Hours) at Lehigh Career & Technical Institute
    More details about Engineering Drafting & Design (1080 Hours) at Lehigh Career & Technical Institute
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    40 weeks, 30 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $24
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $14,300
    Program website, Engineering Drafting & Design (1080 Hours) at Lehigh Career & Technical Institute

  • Drafting and design (associate degree)OnlineHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Drafting and Design Technology/CADD/CAM AAS

    Westmoreland County

    Based in Youngwood, PA

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Westmoreland County, based in Youngwood, PADrafting and design (associate degree) · Accredited schoolOnline · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$14,420
    Program website, Drafting and Design Technology/CADD/CAM AAS at Westmoreland County
    More details about Drafting and Design Technology/CADD/CAM AAS at Westmoreland County
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    81 weeks, 10 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $3,560
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $14,420
    Program website, Drafting and Design Technology/CADD/CAM AAS at Westmoreland County

How to pay for CAD and drafting courses in Pennsylvania

WIOA funding can pay for CAD and drafting courses in Pennsylvania

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for CAD and drafting courses

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.67

GI Bill for CAD and drafting courses

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.8

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Quick facts: AutoCAD and drafting courses in Pennsylvania

programs with a price cost under $1,000
3 of 13
lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare
26th of 30
CAD and drafting programs here, against the typical state's 7
13 vs 7

State comparisons use the same figures as the CAD and drafting courses by state table: the middle program of each state, and only states with three or more schools for prices. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).

AutoCAD and drafting courses in Scranton, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and other Pennsylvania cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 7 programs are online.

Other training in Pennsylvania

How CAD and drafting courses compare with the rest of skilled trades: Trade school programs in Pennsylvania

Where the Pennsylvania drafting program numbers come from

Which Pennsylvania drafting programs are on this list?

These are the drafting programs Pennsylvania approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).9 The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Pennsylvania offers.

How the prices and results of Pennsylvania drafting programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

How reliable are the Pennsylvania figures?

We leave out the share working 6 months later for Pennsylvania: its rates sit far below every other state's, and the counts suggest jobs were traced only for students whose training was publicly paid.

Sources for the facts about CAD and drafting courses in Pennsylvania

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Drafters
  2. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  3. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  4. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  5. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  6. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  8. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  9. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List