by our College Data Analytics Team
[Construction Trades](/majors/construction-trades/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 166 schools to find the best return on investment for construction trades students.
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.
For return on investment in construction trades, no school beat Williamson College Of The Trades this year. Located in the suburb of Media, Williamson College Of The Trades is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,611. The acceptance rate is 22%.
A rank of #2 makes Alpena Community College one of the best values for construction trades. Set in the town of Alpena, Alpena Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,840, with out-of-state students paying around $8,220. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $6,500. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Alpena Community College generally make around $45,132. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in construction trades will find it at Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $6,999. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College generally make around $52,553. Set against $6,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ventura College earned it the #4 place for construction trades. Located in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Construction Trades graduates of Ventura College earn a median of $99,778 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,250 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Illinois Valley Community College one of the best values for construction trades. Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Oglesby. Students from in state pay about $4,200 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,385. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $8,099 in student loans. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $33,224. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Piedmont Community College placed #6 among the best values for construction trades. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,792, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $11,861. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $40,629. Set against $11,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The University Of Texas At Brownsville placed #7 among the best values for construction trades. Located in the city of Brownsville, The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,148, compared with $4,948 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,058 to complete the construction trades program here. Construction Trades graduates of The University Of Texas At Brownsville earn a median of $30,343 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Metropolitan Community College Area came in at #8 for value in construction trades this year. Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public school located in the city of Omaha. Students from in state pay about $3,375 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,950 for out-of-state students. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $12,350 in student loans. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Metropolitan Community College Area generally make around $64,751. Set against $12,350 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hartnell College earned the #9 position for value in construction trades this year. Set in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,404, with out-of-state students paying around $10,398. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $6,000. Construction Trades graduates of Hartnell College earn a median of $35,080 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College placed #10 among the best values for construction trades. Set in the city of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $6,950. Construction Trades graduates of Elizabethtown Community And Technical College earn a median of $64,748 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wilkes Community College placed #11 among the best values for construction trades. Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Wilkesboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,572, while out-of-state students pay about $8,716. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $9,125. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $36,341. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lake Land College came in at #12 for value in construction trades this year. Located in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,415 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,301 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $5,500. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $12,838. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Richmond Community College landed the #13 spot for construction trades value this year. Set in the town of Hamlet, Richmond Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,956, while out-of-state students pay about $6,564. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $73,774. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Washtenaw Community College earned the #14 position for value in construction trades this year. Located in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,736, with out-of-state students paying around $6,504. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $17,616 in student loans. 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.
Northeast Alabama Community College earned the #15 position for value in construction trades this year. Northeast Alabama Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Rainsville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $8,910. Students borrow a median of $7,459 to complete the construction trades program here. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $35,119. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hinds Community College placed #16 among the best values for construction trades. Hinds Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Raymond. Students from in state pay about $4,250 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,300. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $16,385 in student loans. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Hinds Community College generally make around $34,003. Set against $16,385 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Robeson Community College came in at #17 for value in construction trades this year. Set in the town of Lumberton, Robeson Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,604, compared with $8,748 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,949 to complete the construction trades program here. Construction Trades graduates of Robeson Community College earn a median of $40,495 early in their careers. Set against $9,949 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Joaquin Delta College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value construction trades schools. Set in the city of Stockton, San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $9,772. Students borrow a median of $6,382 to complete the construction trades program here. Construction Trades graduates of San Joaquin Delta College earn a median of $65,168 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,382 median debt.
Owensboro Community And Technical College came in at #19 for value in construction trades this year. Set in the rural area of Owensboro, Owensboro Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. 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 $7,338. Construction Trades graduates of Owensboro Community And Technical College earn a median of $55,533 early in their careers. Set against $7,338 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kennebec Valley Community College earned the #20 position for value in construction trades this year. Located in the town of Fairfield, Kennebec Valley Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,156, while out-of-state students pay about $7,036. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $12,250. Construction Trades graduates of Kennebec Valley Community College earn a median of $46,119 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,250 median debt.
George C Wallace State Community College Dothan earned the #21 position for value in construction trades this year. Set in the city of Dothan, George C Wallace State Community College Dothan is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,980, compared with $8,850 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $9,942. Construction Trades graduates of George C Wallace State Community College Dothan earn a median of $34,762 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Itawamba Community College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value construction trades schools. Located in the rural area of Fulton, Itawamba Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,420, compared with $5,820 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,942 to complete the construction trades program here. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $61,039. That is a strong return on a $10,942 median debt.
East Mississippi Community College landed the #23 spot for construction trades value this year. Located in the rural area of Scooba, East Mississippi Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,095, with out-of-state students paying around $7,445. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the construction trades program here. 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.
Del Mar College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value construction trades schools. Del Mar College is a large public school located in the city of Corpus Christi. In-state tuition and fees average $3,500, compared with $6,050 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,476 to complete the construction trades program here. Construction Trades graduates of Del Mar College earn a median of $40,661 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Citrus College came in at #25 for value in construction trades this year. Set in the suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,204, compared with $10,636 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $42,065 ten years out.
These schools also delivered strong value for construction trades this year:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Construction Trades rankings across degree levels:
View All Construction Trades Rankings >The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 166 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 166 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.