2027 Best Value Construction Trades Schools in Kentucky
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for construction trades students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Construction Trades Schools in Kentucky
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the construction trades degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Construction Trades Schools
For return on investment in construction trades, no school beat Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College this year. Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bowling Green. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,999 to complete the construction trades program here. 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 Hazard Community And Technical College earned it the #2 place for construction trades. Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hazard. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $12,212. Construction Trades graduates of Hazard Community And Technical College earn a median of $32,626 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,212 median debt.
Big Sandy Community And Technical College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value construction trades schools. Located in the town of Prestonsburg, Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,625 to complete the construction trades program here. Construction Trades graduates of Big Sandy Community And Technical College earn a median of $31,647 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,625 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Somerset Community College one of the best values for construction trades. Located in the town of Somerset, Somerset Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the construction trades program here. Construction Trades graduates of Somerset Community College earn a median of $46,259 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College earned it the #5 place for construction trades. Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Cumberland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $9,687. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $35,946. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College landed the #6 spot for construction trades value this year. Set in the city of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $7,186 in student loans. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Elizabethtown Community And Technical College generally make around $59,302. Set against $7,186 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Maysville Community And Technical College came in at #7 for value in construction trades this year. Maysville Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Maysville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $8,014 in student loans. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $37,769. Set against $8,014 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Kentucky Community And Technical College placed #8 among the best values for construction trades. Located in the city of Paducah, West Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $5,500. Construction Trades graduates of West Kentucky Community And Technical College earn a median of $29,936 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Madisonville Community College placed #9 among the best values for construction trades. Set in the town of Madisonville, Madisonville Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,985 to complete the construction trades program here. Construction Trades graduates of Madisonville Community College earn a median of $41,084 early in their careers. Set against $10,985 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ashland Community And Technical College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value construction trades schools. Located in the city of Ashland, Ashland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,250 to complete the construction trades program here. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Ashland Community And Technical College generally make around $27,034. Set against $7,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gateway Community And Technical College placed #11 among the best values for construction trades. Located in the suburb of Florence, Gateway Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $46,993. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Owensboro Community And Technical College came in at #12 for value in construction trades this year. Located in the rural area of Owensboro, Owensboro Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $7,829 to complete the construction trades program here. Construction Trades graduates of Owensboro Community And Technical College earn a median of $52,335 early in their careers. Set against $7,829 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hopkinsville Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value construction trades schools. Located in the town of Hopkinsville, Hopkinsville Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $13,269 in student loans. Construction Trades graduates of Hopkinsville Community College earn a median of $43,678 early in their careers. Set against $13,269 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bluegrass Community And Technical College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value construction trades schools. Located in the city of Lexington, Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,808, while out-of-state students pay about $6,512. Students borrow a median of $10,412 to complete the construction trades program here. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $66,544. Set against $10,412 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Jefferson Community And Technical College landed the #15 spot for construction trades value this year. Jefferson Community And Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Louisville. Students from in state pay about $4,808 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,512. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $11,170. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $44,346. That is a strong return on a $11,170 median debt.
Employment Solutions College For Technical Education earned the #16 position for value in construction trades this year. Located in the city of Lexington, Employment Solutions College For Technical Education is a small private not-for-profit university. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $11,510 in student loans. Construction Trades graduates of Employment Solutions College For Technical Education earn a median of $25,158 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,510 median debt.
More Construction Trades Rankings
View All Construction Trades Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
