by our College Data Analytics Team
[Construction Trades](/majors/construction-trades/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 928 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value construction trades schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the construction trades degrees they offer, see the list below.
Williamson College Of The Trades tops our 2026 list of the best value construction trades schools in the United States. Located in the suburb of Media, Williamson College Of The Trades is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $31,611 in tuition and fees. Williamson College Of The Trades admits about 22% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Metropolitan Community College Area one of the best values for construction trades. Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public school located in the city of Omaha. In-state tuition and fees average $3,375, compared with $4,950 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $12,350. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $64,751. That is a strong return on a $12,350 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College earned it the #3 place for construction trades. Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bowling Green. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $6,999. Construction Trades graduates of Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College earn a median of $52,553 early in their careers. Set against $6,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Seminole State College Of Florida one of the best values for construction trades. Set in the city of Sanford, Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,122 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,447. Students borrow a median of $18,419 to complete the construction trades program here. Construction Trades graduates of Seminole State College Of Florida earn a median of $48,049 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in construction trades will find it at Alpena Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the town of Alpena, Alpena Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,840, while out-of-state students pay about $8,220. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $45,132. That is a strong return on a $6,500 median debt.
Santiago Canyon College earned the #6 position for value in construction trades this year. Santiago Canyon College is a large public school located in the city of Orange. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,164, while out-of-state students pay about $9,612. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the construction trades program here. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Santiago Canyon College generally make around $34,100. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Owensboro Community And Technical College landed the #7 spot for construction trades value this year. Located in the rural area of Owensboro, Owensboro Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $7,338 to complete the construction trades program here. Construction Trades graduates of Owensboro Community And Technical College earn a median of $55,533 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeast Alabama Community College landed the #8 spot for construction trades value this year. Located in the rural area of Rainsville, Northeast Alabama Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $8,910. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $7,459. Construction Trades graduates of Northeast Alabama Community College earn a median of $35,119 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,459 median debt.
Ventura College landed the #9 spot for construction trades value this year. Located in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete the construction trades program here. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $99,778. Set against $20,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Brazosport College placed #10 among the best values for construction trades. Brazosport College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Lake Jackson. In-state tuition and fees average $2,388, while out-of-state students pay about $4,711. Students borrow a median of $6,625 to complete the construction trades program here. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $32,746. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Norco College came in at #11 for value in construction trades this year. Set in the suburb of Norco, Norco College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,428, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $8,203 in student loans. Median earnings reach $51,206 ten years out. Set against $8,203 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Piedmont Community College earned the #12 position for value in construction trades this year. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,792, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $11,861 in student loans. Construction Trades graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $40,629 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bates Technical College earned the #13 position for value in construction trades this year. Bates Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Tacoma. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,027, with out-of-state students paying around $12,165. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $50,051.
Illinois Valley Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value construction trades schools. Set in the town of Oglesby, Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,200 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,385 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $8,099. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $33,224. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lake Land College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value construction trades schools. Set in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,415, while out-of-state students pay about $14,301. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Construction Trades graduates of Lake Land College earn a median of $12,838 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Washtenaw Community College placed #16 among the best values for construction trades. Washtenaw Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ann Arbor. In-state tuition and fees average $2,736, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,616 to complete the construction trades program here. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Washtenaw Community College generally make around $45,332. Set against $17,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Imperial Valley College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value construction trades schools. Imperial Valley College is a large public school located in the rural area of Imperial. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,126, with out-of-state students paying around $8,830. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $6,176 in student loans. Construction Trades graduates of Imperial Valley College earn a median of $42,617 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hinds Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value construction trades schools. Hinds Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Raymond. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,250, with out-of-state students paying around $7,300. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $16,385. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $34,003. That is a strong return on a $16,385 median debt.
Pima Community College came in at #19 for value in construction trades this year. Pima Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,442, while out-of-state students pay about $7,758. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $10,655 in student loans. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Pima Community College generally make around $40,977. That is a strong return on a $10,655 median debt.
Orange Coast College landed the #20 spot for construction trades value this year. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,392, compared with $11,640 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,978 to complete the construction trades program here. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $46,306. Set against $8,978 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Texas College landed the #21 spot for construction trades value this year. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,920, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $6,868. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $20,150. That is a strong return on a $6,868 median debt.
Bellingham Technical College landed the #22 spot for construction trades value this year. Located in the city of Bellingham, Bellingham Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,431, while out-of-state students pay about $5,809. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,748 ten years after entry.
Southwest Mississippi Community College landed the #23 spot for construction trades value this year. Southwest Mississippi Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Summit. Students from in state pay about $4,080 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,780. Students borrow a median of $21,057 to complete the construction trades program here. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $50,292. Set against $21,057 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fayetteville Technical Community College earned the #24 position for value in construction trades this year. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,628, with out-of-state students paying around $8,772. Students borrow a median of $16,909 to complete the construction trades program here. Construction Trades graduates of Fayetteville Technical Community College earn a median of $40,584 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
East Mississippi Community College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value construction trades schools. Located in the rural area of Scooba, East Mississippi Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,095 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,445 for out-of-state students. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Construction Trades graduates of East Mississippi Community College earn a median of $53,950 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s construction trades value ranking:
Explore the best-value construction trades schools at other degree levels:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 928 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 59 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.