2026 Best Value Construction Trades Schools in the Great Lakes Region

1

City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College
Chicago, IL

Leading the list is City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College, our #1 best value for construction trades in the Great Lakes Region. City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,500 to complete the construction trades program here. Construction Trades graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College earn a median of $33,326 early in their careers. Set against $7,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

2

Alpena Community College
Alpena, MI

Alpena Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in construction trades, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Alpena, Alpena Community College is a mid-sized public university. 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. 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.

3

Illinois Valley Community College
Oglesby, IL

A rank of #3 makes Illinois Valley Community College one of the best values for construction trades. Set in the town of Oglesby, Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,200, while out-of-state students pay about $16,385. Students borrow a median of $8,099 to complete the construction trades program here. Construction Trades graduates of Illinois Valley Community College earn a median of $33,224 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,099 median debt.

4

Washtenaw Community College
Ann Arbor, MI

A rank of #4 makes Washtenaw Community College one of the best values for construction trades. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,736, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

5

Lake Land College
Mattoon, IL

Students looking for strong value in construction trades will find it at Lake Land College, which ranked #5. Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Mattoon. 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. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

6

Lansing Community College
Lansing, MI

Lansing Community College earned the #6 position for value in construction trades this year. Located in the city of Lansing, Lansing Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,100, with out-of-state students paying around $11,300. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $16,700. Construction Trades graduates of Lansing Community College earn a median of $46,103 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

7

Triton College
River Grove, IL

Triton College came in at #7 for value in construction trades this year. Located in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,070, with out-of-state students paying around $15,330. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $12,994. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Triton College generally make around $43,278. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

8

Cuyahoga Community College District
Cleveland, OH

Cuyahoga Community College District ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value construction trades schools. Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Cleveland. In-state tuition and fees average $3,249, while out-of-state students pay about $7,249. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $14,636. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Cuyahoga Community College District generally make around $39,394. Set against $14,636 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

9

City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College
Chicago, IL

City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College earned the #9 position for value in construction trades this year. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $6,974 in student loans. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $105,131. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

10

Delta College
University Center, MI

Delta College earned the #10 position for value in construction trades this year. Set in the rural area of University Center, Delta College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,820, while out-of-state students pay about $7,880. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $14,075. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Delta College generally make around $37,342. Set against $14,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

11

Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN

Ivy Tech Community College landed the #11 spot for construction trades value this year. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $5,154, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $7,308 in student loans. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $62,060. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

12

Sinclair Community College
Dayton, OH

Sinclair Community College earned the #12 position for value in construction trades this year. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,675, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $12,525 in student loans. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $35,348. That is a strong return on a $12,525 median debt.

13

Marion Technical College
Marion, OH

Marion Technical College earned the #13 position for value in construction trades this year. Marion Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Marion. Students from in state pay about $6,595 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,225. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $11,828. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $48,132. That is a strong return on a $11,828 median debt.

14

Prairie State College
Chicago Heights, IL

Prairie State College earned the #14 position for value in construction trades this year. Prairie State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Chicago Heights. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,176, with out-of-state students paying around $11,064. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $15,663. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $37,500. That is a strong return on a $15,663 median debt.

15

Wayne County Community College District
Detroit, MI

Wayne County Community College District ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value construction trades schools. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne County Community College District is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,112, with out-of-state students paying around $4,067. Students borrow a median of $20,820 to complete the construction trades program here. Construction Trades graduates of Wayne County Community College District earn a median of $48,892 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,820 median debt.

16

Kaskaskia College
Centralia, IL

Kaskaskia College landed the #16 spot for construction trades value this year. Set in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,570. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $7,875. Construction Trades graduates of Kaskaskia College earn a median of $45,658 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,875 median debt.

17

Southwestern Illinois College
Belleville, IL

Southwestern Illinois College landed the #17 spot for construction trades value this year. Southwestern Illinois College is a large public school located in the suburb of Belleville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,230, compared with $6,720 for out-of-state students. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $10,388 in student loans. Construction Trades graduates of Southwestern Illinois College earn a median of $44,345 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

18

Rock Valley College
Rockford, IL

Rock Valley College placed #18 among the best values for construction trades. Set in the city of Rockford, Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,334 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,379 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $9,236. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Rock Valley College generally make around $41,080. Set against $9,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

19

John Wood Community College
Quincy, IL

John Wood Community College landed the #19 spot for construction trades value this year. Located in the town of Quincy, John Wood Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,100, while out-of-state students pay about $8,700. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $13,844 in student loans. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $45,748. That is a strong return on a $13,844 median debt.

20

Columbus State Community College
Columbus, OH

Columbus State Community College came in at #20 for value in construction trades this year. Columbus State Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,488, compared with $11,224 for out-of-state students. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $9,041 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,435 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

21

Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College
Rice Lake, WI

Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value construction trades schools. Set in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,926, while out-of-state students pay about $7,169. Students borrow a median of $11,384 to complete the construction trades program here. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $35,981. That is a strong return on a $11,384 median debt.

22

Jackson Community College
Jackson, MI

Jackson Community College earned the #22 position for value in construction trades this year. Set in the rural area of Jackson, Jackson Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,350, with out-of-state students paying around $10,200. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $16,960 in student loans. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $41,322. Set against $16,960 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

23

Waukesha County Technical College
Pewaukee, WI

Waukesha County Technical College earned the #23 position for value in construction trades this year. Waukesha County Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Pewaukee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,803, while out-of-state students pay about $7,046. Students borrow a median of $16,595 to complete the construction trades program here. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $46,398. Set against $16,595 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

24

Gateway Technical College
Kenosha, WI

Gateway Technical College earned the #24 position for value in construction trades this year. Gateway Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Kenosha. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,956, compared with $7,199 for out-of-state students. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $14,829 in student loans. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Gateway Technical College generally make around $42,410. That is a strong return on a $14,829 median debt.

25

Moraine Park Technical College
Fond du Lac, WI

Moraine Park Technical College landed the #25 spot for construction trades value this year. Moraine Park Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Fond du Lac. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,819, with out-of-state students paying around $7,084. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Construction Trades graduates of Moraine Park Technical College earn a median of $41,051 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.