School and Ranking Information
There is a mixture of public, private not-for-profit and for-profit schools offering computer-aided design (CAD) programs in the area around Troy, MI. Based on school distinction and student-to-faculty ratio when compared to other public colleges in the area, the following school is considered a top school in the Troy, MI, area for CAD design training:
- Winner: Henry Ford College, located 18 miles from Troy, offers Certificate of Achievement and Associate in Applied Science degrees in CAD technology - industrial drafting and CAD technician.
School Info Chart
| Category | Henry Ford College |
|---|---|
| Distinction | One of only six community colleges in the state of Michigan to receive an Achieving the Dream Grant, which provides funding to help 2-year schools better serve low-income and minority students* |
| Location | Dearborn, Michigan |
| School Type | 2-year, public |
| Tuition & Fees (2021-2022) | Undergrad: $3,310 (in-district); $5,200 (in-state); $7,192 (out-of-state)** |
| CAD Design Levels Offered | Certificate and associate's degree |
| CAD Certificates and Degrees Awarded in 2020-2021 | 21** |
| Most Popular CAD Design Level in 2020-2021 | Associate (16 awarded)** |
| Undergraduate Graduation Rate (in 150% of normal degree time) for 2015 Entering Class | 10%** |
| Noteworthy | Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and the Michigan Commission on College Accreditation |
Sources: *Henry Ford College; **NCES College Navigator.
Henry Ford Community College
- Hands-on software training accompanies classroom instruction
- Its 21:1 student-to-faculty ratio is among the lowest of public community colleges in the area offering CAD technology programs
- Credits earned are transferable to several state universities, including University of Michigan - Dearborn, Eastern Michigan University and Central Michigan University
Established in 1938, Henry Ford College (HFC) changed its name from Henry Ford Community College in May 2014. The college offers 1-year certificate and 2-year associate's degree programs on a main campus in Dearborn, MI, and two satellite locations. The Drafting Department at HFC offers courses in CAD design and industrial drafting.
The Certificate of Achievement in CAD Technology - Industrial Drafting program is designed for current CAD professionals who wish to upgrade their skills and focuses on a specific software program. Students can choose between certificates that focus on UG NX, SolidWorks or the CATIA V5 software used in the automotive and industrial fields. Introductory coursework in the CATIA program covers the software's part design, sketching, assembly and drafting design modules, also known as workbenches. The 60-credit-hour Associate in Applied Science in CAD Technology - Industrial Drafting program teaches students several CAD programs, including CATIA. Students learn manual drafting in introductory courses and then go on to use software applications for fixture design, die design and machine element drafting. They then learn layout, detailing and advanced CAD techniques such as 3-dimensional modeling. The school also offers an Associate in Applied Science in CAD-CAM Technician, which includes courses in machine drafting, die design and product drawing.
