Program Description

The Mechanical Design Engineering Technology Associate Degree program prepares learners to work with engineers in the design and preparation of engineering drawings for all types of machines and products. Learners learn to draw and design machinery parts and products using 2D and 3D computerized drawing software.

Approximate Program Cost

$12,320
Tuition & Fees: $11,243
Books & Supplies: $1,077

Starting Salary

$29,120–$48,256
Average, based on the NTC Graduate Outcomes Report

Financial Aid

Available
Total financial aid offered may not exceed the estimated Cost of Attendance (COA).

Available

100% Online

Available via

Attend Your Way

Learn more about our Attend Your Way class mode.

An aerial view of NTC's Wausau Campus main entrance on a sunny summer day. Trees and greenery frame the spacious side walks that lead up to the light-brown brick building.

Take a Look Around

Explore our campuses to get an idea of what it’s like to be a student at NTC.

Get Started

The application takes just a few minutes to complete.

Availability

Courses for this program may be available at a variety of campus locations through multiple modes of delivery if you meet the admission requirements and prerequisites.

100%
at Wausau
100%
at Antigo
100%
at Medford
100%
at Phillips
100%
at Spencer
100%
at Wittenberg
100%
at Online

* Campus and online availability of courses and programs may be subject to change.

Outcomes

Graduates will be able to…

  • Select purchased parts
  • Analyze mechanical engineering problems
  • Design mechanical components and products
  • Create CAD geometry, parts and assemblies
  • Prepare detail and assembly drawings for documentation of mechanical components and products

Careers

Some of the potential careers graduates can pursue are:

  • Engineering Technician
  • Product Designer
  • Design Drafter
  • Drafter
  • CAD Technician

Courses

The Mechanical Design Engineering Technology Associate Degree is a 64–66 Credit program. The following is a typical semester breakdown of the courses within the program.

First Term

College 101 1.00
Technical Drafting/CAD 2.00
Technical Detailing 2.00
Materials Of Industry 2.00
Manufacturing Processes - Machining 2.00
Computer Applications & Analysis For Engineers 1.00
Intermediate Algebra W/Apps 4.00
College Algebra W/Apps 3.00
General Physics 1 4.00
Survey Of Physics 3.00

Second Term

Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing Fundamentals 1.00
Applied Mechanics For Technicians 3.00
Manufacturing Processes - Fabrication 2.00
Solidworks 1 1.00
Solidworks 2 1.00
Quality Systems 2.00
Introduction To Diversity Studies 3.00
Intro To Sociology 3.00
Written Communication 3.00
English Composition 1 3.00

Third Term

Machine Design 1 2.00
Autodesk Inventor 3D CAD Software 2.00
Strength Of Materials 3.00
Mechanisms 3.00
Technical Reporting 3.00
Quality Assurance 1.00
Psychology Of Human Relations 3.00
Intro To Psychology 3.00

Fourth Term

Machine Design 2 3.00
Design For Manufacturing 4.00
Tooling & Production 2.00
Fluid Power Systems 1: Fundamentals 1.00
Solidworks 3 2.00
Autodesk Inventor 2 1.00
Mechanical Design Engineering Internship 2.00
Mechanical Design Engineering Interactive Project 2.00

Credit for Prior Learning Available

View All Detailed Course Information

Pathways

Pathways are a series of connected programs that enable you to advance over time to better jobs and higher levels of education and training. By earning one degree, you could also be completing several courses of a related program in a pathway, bringing you one step closer to an advanced degree.

If you begin with one of the following programs, you will earn significant credit towards this Mechanical Design Engineering Technology Associate Degree:

Transfer Information

You can continue your education to earn a four-year degree in a variety of ways.

Program Transfer

The following transfer guides, executed in partnership with post-secondary institutions, are based on agreements that allow you to continue your program at another college.

General Transfer

All associate degrees transfer to a variety of programs at other partner colleges to give you the opportunity to continue your education in other areas of study.

View all transfer guides

Cost of Attendance

2024–2025 Estimated Academic Year Budgeted Cost of Attendance

The estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) is a budget that includes categories of expenses that a student can expect to incur while attending college. The COA does not reflect actual charges. It is an average based on the estimated living costs typical of our region. In determining the cost of attendance, Northcentral Technical College uses the budget established by the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) Financial Aid Budget Work Group. This budget is used to determine financial need for all students who apply for financial aid. A student's cost of attendance is composed of all educational expenses that can be included for financial aid purposes that a student may accrue while pursuing their education for the year (or semester, if enrolled less than a year). A student's financial aid cannot exceed their cost of attendance. Schools are required to provide a fuller picture of what it may cost students to pursue their degree, not just what they will owe in tuition/fees and books/supplies.

Please Note: this COA budget estimate assumes full-time attendance for two semesters — Fall 2024 and Spring 2025.
Expenses Student Living With Parents (Home) Student Living on Own (Other)
Full-time Tuition (based on a total of 30 credits, 15 credits fall and 15 credits spring)
In-State Tuition & Fees
$4,844*
Out-of-State Tuition & Fees
$7,127*
In-State Tuition & Fees
$4,844*
Out-of-State Tuition & Fees
$7,127*
Living Expenses (Housing & Food) $3,008 $9,147
Books / Supplies $1,465 $1,465
Transportation $4,017 $4,017
Personal Expenses $3,608 $3,608
Loan Fees $85 $85
Total Estimated Cost Of Attendance
In-State
$17,027
Out-of-State
$19,310
In-State
$23,166
Out-of-State
$25,449

* Tuition listed is based on approved rates for the 2024–2025 academic year. Rates are approved each March by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board and estimated budgets are updated at that time.

For the 2024–2025 academic year, the Wisconsin Resident tuition rate is $149.50 per credit and Out-of-State resident tuition is $224.25 per credit.

For the 2024–2025 academic year, Student Fees include: a minimum $5.00 material fee and a $13.15 per credit activity fee. A $4.00 per semester insurance fee will be assessed to students taking at least one course which has a scheduled session on campus.

Students awarded Federal Direct Loan(s) also have an average of the mandatory loan fees automatically added to their COA.

Students with disability-related expenses may contact the Financial Aid Office to have their additional expenses considered. Disability-related expenses include but are not limited to: personal assistance, equipment, and supplies. The Financial Aid Office may potentially include disability expenses in the COA that are not provided by other assisting agencies.

NTC also offers a Net Price Calculator to help estimate costs.

For more information regarding billed tuition and fees visit https://www.ntc.edu/admissions/tuition-fees

We’re happy to answer any questions you may have about how the financial aid process works. Please feel free to reach out for more information.

NTC Financial Aid Office

715.803.1647
financialaid@ntc.edu

Admissions Process

Our application process takes just a few minutes to complete, but we want to make sure you have the things you’ll need on hand to complete the application. We’re here to help if you have any questions while submitting your application.

Fill out our application

The application can be submitted online and takes just a few minutes to complete. There is no fee to apply.

Apply Now

Then, submit one of the following

Documentation can be sent via email to admissions@ntc.edu, via mail, addressed to: Northcentral Technical College, ATTN: Admissions, 1000 W. Campus Drive, Wausau, WI 54401, or delivered in person to any NTC campus.

  • High school transcript indicating a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above. Contact the high school you attended if you do not have a copy of your transcript.
  • ACT composite score of 18 or above. Request an ACT College Report from ACT or contact the high school you graduated from if you do not have a copy on hand.
  • Accuplacer scores. Score requirements vary by program and version of the Accuplacer test that was taken. For more details, please contact Admissions. If you did not take the Accuplacer at NTC, contact the college at which you took it to obtain a copy of your scores.
  • College transcript indicating a cumulative GPA of 2.5 over a minimum of 12 credits, earned at a single college.

If you do not meet any one of the above criteria, don’t worry, complete the application anyway and we will contact you to discuss your options.

What’s Next?

We’ll review your application and let you know if we need anything else. If you’re all set, your acceptance letter will be emailed to you.