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2026 Best Construction Trades Schools

70 Colleges in the United States
35,675 Construction Trades Degrees Awarded
$45,396 Avg Early-Career Salary

Construction Trades is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

College Factual analyzed 928 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best construction trades schools.

What’s on this page:

Choosing a Great Construction Trades School

Best Construction Trades Schools

The school you choose for construction trades can shape your career. To help, we created our Best Construction Trades Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.

In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.

Construction Trades Rankings by Degree Level

Associate's Degrees in Construction Trades
Bachelor's Degrees in Construction Trades
Master's Degrees in Construction Trades
Doctoral Degrees in Construction Trades

We offer several rankings, including this Best Construction Trades Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.

Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.

See how we build our rankings

Best Schools for Construction Trades in the United States

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the construction trades degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Construction Trades

1

Leading the list is Trinidad State Junior College, our #1 school for construction trades. Set in the town of Trinidad, Trinidad State Junior College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 150 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Trinidad State Junior College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $73,424 in their early career. Trinidad State Junior College graduates carry a median of $3,588 in student loans. Read more about the construction trades program at Trinidad State Junior College

2

A rank of #2 makes Chippewa Valley Technical College one of the top schools for construction trades. This large public university is located in the city of Eau Claire. There were roughly 63 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Chippewa Valley Technical College in the most recent data year. Construction Trades graduates of Chippewa Valley Technical College earn a median of $40,172 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500. See the full construction trades program report for Chippewa Valley Technical College

3

A rank of #3 makes Texas State Technical College one of the top schools for construction trades. Set in the city of Waco, Texas State Technical College is a large public institution. There were roughly 631 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Texas State Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $66,521 in their early career. Texas State Technical College graduates carry a median of $9,923 in student loans. Read more about the construction trades program at Texas State Technical College

4

Moraine Park Technical College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in construction trades, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Fond du Lac, Moraine Park Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. About 136 construction trades degrees were awarded at Moraine Park Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $41,051 in their early career. Moraine Park Technical College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. See the full construction trades program report for Moraine Park Technical College

5

Students looking for a strong construction trades program will find one at Honolulu Community College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Honolulu, Honolulu Community College is a mid-sized public university. Honolulu Community College awarded about 201 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $86,741 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,500. Get the full construction trades details for Honolulu Community College

6

Linn State Technical College earned the #6 position for construction trades this year. Located in the rural area of Linn, Linn State Technical College is a mid-sized public university. About 167 construction trades degrees were awarded at Linn State Technical College in the most recent year. Construction Trades graduates of Linn State Technical College earn a median of $54,080 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000. See the full construction trades program report for Linn State Technical College

7

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College landed the #7 spot for construction trades this year. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Green Bay. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College awarded about 254 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their construction trades degree from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College earn around $31,061 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,997. See the full construction trades program report for Northeast Wisconsin Technical College

8

Williamson College Of The Trades placed #8 among the best construction trades schools. Set in the suburb of Media, Williamson College Of The Trades is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 30 construction trades degrees were awarded at Williamson College Of The Trades in the most recent year. More information about a degree in construction trades from Williamson College Of The Trades

9

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best construction trades schools. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Fennimore. About 81 construction trades degrees were awarded at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $53,024 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,225. See the full construction trades program report for Southwest Wisconsin Technical College

10

Fox Valley Technical College came in at #10 for construction trades this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Appleton. Fox Valley Technical College awarded about 171 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $79,589 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,319 to complete this degree. See the full construction trades program report for Fox Valley Technical College

11

Northwest Iowa Community College came in at #11 for construction trades this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Sheldon. About 78 construction trades degrees were awarded at Northwest Iowa Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Northwest Iowa Community College generally make around $78,118. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree. See the full construction trades program report for Northwest Iowa Community College

12

Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College placed #12 among the best construction trades schools. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 494 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their construction trades degree from Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College earn around $52,553 in the first couple years of their career. Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $6,999 in student loans. Read more about the construction trades program at Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College

13

North Dakota State College Of Science earned the #13 position for construction trades this year. Located in the town of Wahpeton, North Dakota State College Of Science is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 86 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at North Dakota State College Of Science in the most recent data year. Students who receive their construction trades degree from North Dakota State College Of Science earn around $48,989 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,706. See the full construction trades program report for North Dakota State College Of Science

14

Bismarck State College earned the #14 position for construction trades this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Bismarck. There were roughly 55 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Bismarck State College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $52,959 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $6,666. More information about a degree in construction trades from Bismarck State College

15

Mitchell Technical Institute earned the #15 position for construction trades this year. This small public university is located in the town of Mitchell. There were roughly 182 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Mitchell Technical Institute in the most recent data year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $46,736 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,683. Read more about the construction trades program at Mitchell Technical Institute

16

Northern Michigan University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best construction trades schools. Located in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 42 construction trades degrees were awarded at Northern Michigan University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Northern Michigan University generally make around $53,242. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500. Read more about the construction trades program at Northern Michigan University

17

Elizabethtown Community And Technical College placed #17 among the best construction trades schools. Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Elizabethtown. About 556 construction trades degrees were awarded at Elizabethtown Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their construction trades degree from Elizabethtown Community And Technical College earn around $59,302 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $7,186 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in construction trades from Elizabethtown Community And Technical College

18

Utah Valley University came in at #18 for construction trades this year. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. There were roughly 85 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Utah Valley University in the most recent data year. Construction Trades graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $74,527 early in their careers. Utah Valley University graduates carry a median of $14,484 in student loans. Read more about the construction trades program at Utah Valley University

19
Nash Community College crest
Nash Community College
Rocky Mount, NC

Nash Community College came in at #19 for construction trades this year. Set in the rural area of Rocky Mount, Nash Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Nash Community College awarded about 112 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $52,474 in their early career. Nash Community College graduates carry a median of $16,969 in student loans. See the full construction trades program report for Nash Community College

20
Ivy Tech Community College crest
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN

Ivy Tech Community College placed #20 among the best construction trades schools. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. Ivy Tech Community College awarded about 1,645 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Construction Trades graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $62,060 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $7,308. Get the full construction trades details for Ivy Tech Community College

21

Great Basin College earned the #21 position for construction trades this year. Great Basin College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Elko. The six-year graduation rate is 14%. There were roughly 58 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Great Basin College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $67,461 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,128. More information about a degree in construction trades from Great Basin College

22

Owensboro Community And Technical College placed #22 among the best construction trades schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Owensboro. There were roughly 612 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Owensboro Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Owensboro Community And Technical College generally make around $52,335. Owensboro Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $7,829 in student loans. More information about a degree in construction trades from Owensboro Community And Technical College

23

Southeast Technical Institute placed #23 among the best construction trades schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Sioux Falls. Southeast Technical Institute awarded about 33 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Southeast Technical Institute generally make around $48,654. Students borrow a median of $18,442 to complete this degree. Read more about the construction trades program at Southeast Technical Institute

24
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University landed the #24 spot for construction trades this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. About 81% of students finish within six years. About 18 construction trades degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their construction trades degree from Michigan State University earn around $39,107 in the first couple years of their career. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $25,213 in student loans. Read more about the construction trades program at Michigan State University

25

Renton Technical College earned the #25 position for construction trades this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Renton. Renton Technical College awarded about 129 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $80,411 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,582. More information about a degree in construction trades from Renton Technical College

Rest of the Top 50 Construction Trades Schools

These schools also placed among the best for construction trades this year:

26
Mesa State College crest
Mesa State College
Grand Junction, CO
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
Foothill College crest
Foothill College
Los Altos Hills, CA
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50

Additional Construction Trades Award Winners

The following schools placed in the top tier for construction trades:

Rank School Location
#57 Minnesota West Community And Technical College Granite Falls, MN
#60 Bluegrass Community And Technical College Lexington, KY
#61 Ranken Technical College Saint Louis, MO
#72 Richmond Community College Hamlet, NC
#188 Washtenaw Community College Ann Arbor, MI

Honorable Mentions

These schools earned honorable mentions for construction trades:

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Construction Trades by Region

View the Best Construction Trades Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Great Lakes

View All Rankings >

Explore other rankings in majors related to Construction Trades. Browse the parent area of study.

Major Annual Graduates
Electrician 16,438
Carpentry/Carpenter 4,226
Lineworker 2,540
Construction Trades 2,204
Electrical and Power Transmission Installation/Installer, General 2,082
Plumbing Technology/Plumber 1,745
Building/Construction Site Management/Manager 1,420
Building/Property Maintenance 1,417
Building Construction Technology/Technician 1,133
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection, Other 605
Pipefitting/Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter 509
Mason/Masonry 311
Drywall Installation/Drywaller 254
Building/Home/Construction Inspection/Inspector 231
Construction Trades, Other 194
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers, Other 135
Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services, Other 71
Roofer 37
Insulator 31
Painting/Painter and Wall Coverer 27
Concrete Finishing/Concrete Finisher 23
Carpet, Floor, and Tile Worker 21
Glazier 14
Well Drilling/Driller 7

View All Construction Trades Concentrations >

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 928 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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