by our College Data Analytics Team
[Construction Trades](/majors/construction-trades/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 928 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for construction trades students.
What’s on this page:
The construction trades program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we developed our Best Value Construction Trades Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Learn more about our methodology
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value 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.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in construction trades, balancing cost against outcomes.
Williamson College Of The Trades earned the #1 spot for value among construction trades schools in the United States. Set in the suburb of Media, Williamson College Of The Trades is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $31,611 in tuition and fees. Williamson College Of The Trades admits about 22% of applicants.
South Georgia Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in construction trades, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Americus, South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,992, compared with $7,202 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $10,423. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $51,498. Set against $10,423 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value construction trades schools. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $6,999 in student loans. Construction Trades graduates of Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College earn a median of $52,553 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,999 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College one of the best values for construction trades. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $33,326. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Coastal Pines Technical College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value construction trades schools. Set in the town of Waycross, Coastal Pines Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,268, with out-of-state students paying around $5,836. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $5,812. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $39,090. Set against $5,812 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Metropolitan Community College Area landed the #6 spot for construction trades value this year. Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public school located in the city of Omaha. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,375, with out-of-state students paying around $4,950. Students borrow a median of $12,350 to complete the construction trades program here. Construction Trades graduates of Metropolitan Community College Area earn a median of $64,751 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,350 median debt.
Alpena Community College placed #7 among the best values for construction trades. Set in the town of Alpena, Alpena Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,840, compared with $8,220 for out-of-state students. 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. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Somerset Community College placed #8 among 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, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Somerset Community College generally make around $46,259. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Nash Community College placed #9 among the best values for construction trades. Nash Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Rocky Mount. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,866, while out-of-state students pay about $8,866. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $16,969 in student loans. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $52,474. That is a strong return on a $16,969 median debt.
Mt San Antonio College landed the #10 spot for construction trades value this year. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $9,384. Construction Trades graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $44,391 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,384 median debt.
Northeast Alabama Community College earned the #11 position for value in construction trades this year. Set in the rural area of Rainsville, Northeast Alabama Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,040 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,910. Students borrow a median of $7,459 to complete the construction trades program here. Construction Trades graduates of Northeast Alabama Community College earn a median of $35,119 early in their careers. Set against $7,459 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Sequoias earned the #12 position for value in construction trades this year. Set in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,394, compared with $9,038 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $10,288. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $37,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wilkes Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value construction trades schools. Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Wilkesboro. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,572, compared with $8,716 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $9,125. Construction Trades graduates of Wilkes Community College earn a median of $36,341 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santiago Canyon College placed #14 among the best values for construction trades. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $9,612. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $5,500. Construction Trades graduates of Santiago Canyon College earn a median of $34,100 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Canyons earned the #15 position for value in construction trades this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,166, while out-of-state students pay about $10,958. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $51,913. That is a strong return on a $9,776 median debt.
Fresno City College came in at #16 for value in construction trades this year. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $7,234 in student loans. Construction Trades graduates of Fresno City College earn a median of $37,470 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Georgia Technical College came in at #17 for value in construction trades this year. Located in the rural area of Clarkesville, North Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,330, while out-of-state students pay about $5,898. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $12,279 in student loans. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from North Georgia Technical College generally make around $41,675. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Regional Technical College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value construction trades schools. Located in the town of Thomasville, Southern Regional Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,007, compared with $5,575 for out-of-state students. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $9,086 in student loans. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Southern Regional Technical College generally make around $44,007. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ventura College landed the #19 spot for construction trades value this year. Set in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Ventura College generally make around $99,778. That is a strong return on a $20,250 median debt.
Brazosport College landed the #20 spot for construction trades value this year. Brazosport College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Lake Jackson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Construction Trades graduates of Brazosport College earn a median of $32,746 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Owensboro Community And Technical College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value construction trades schools. Located in the rural area of Owensboro, Owensboro Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $7,829. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Owensboro Community And Technical College generally make around $52,335. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College earned the #22 position for value in construction trades this year. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rome. In-state tuition and fees average $3,300, while out-of-state students pay about $5,868. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $8,492. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Georgia Northwestern Technical College generally make around $41,229. Set against $8,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Trident Technical College placed #23 among the best values for construction trades. Set in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,546, while out-of-state students pay about $8,620. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $18,116. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $50,166. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hinds Community College earned the #24 position for value in construction trades this year. Hinds Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Raymond. In-state tuition and fees average $4,250, compared with $7,300 for out-of-state students. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $16,385 in student loans. Construction Trades graduates of Hinds Community College earn a median of $34,003 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,385 median debt.
Irvine Valley College placed #25 among the best values for construction trades. Located in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,156 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,860. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $6,672 in student loans. Median earnings reach $49,156 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $6,672 median debt.
These schools also delivered strong value for construction trades this year:
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Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to Construction Trades. See all related rankings.
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 62 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.