by our College Data Analytics Team
[Construction Trades](/majors/construction-trades/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong construction trades education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 91 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for construction trades students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in construction trades, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in construction trades, no school beat Williamson College Of The Trades this year. Set in the suburb of Media, Williamson College Of The Trades is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $31,611. The acceptance rate is 22%.
A rank of #2 makes Hudson Valley Community College one of the best values for construction trades. Located in the city of Troy, Hudson Valley Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,796 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,852. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $11,973 in student loans. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Hudson Valley Community College generally make around $49,095. That is a strong return on a $11,973 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in construction trades will find it at Erie Community College, which ranked #3. Erie Community College is a large public school located in the city of Buffalo. In-state tuition and fees average $6,100, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $8,710. Construction Trades graduates of Erie Community College earn a median of $44,535 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Hudson County Community College one of the best values for construction trades. Set in the city of Jersey City, Hudson County Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,384, while out-of-state students pay about $9,248. Students borrow a median of $10,671 to complete the construction trades program here. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Hudson County Community College generally make around $35,909. Set against $10,671 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Community College Of Allegheny County earned it the #5 place for construction trades. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Community College Of Allegheny County is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,956, compared with $12,583 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $12,000. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $151,803. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Sussex County Community College landed the #6 spot for construction trades value this year. Located in the rural area of Newton, Sussex County Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,544, compared with $9,024 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $10,750. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $27,179. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Delaware County Community College landed the #7 spot for construction trades value this year. Delaware County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Media. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,930, compared with $15,540 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,866 to complete the construction trades program here. Construction Trades graduates of Delaware County Community College earn a median of $28,384 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology landed the #8 spot for construction trades value this year. Set in the city of Lancaster, Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,050. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $8,380. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $37,259. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Mohawk Valley Community College placed #9 among the best values for construction trades. Mohawk Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Utica. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,218, with out-of-state students paying around $8,851. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $11,900 in student loans. Construction Trades graduates of Mohawk Valley Community College earn a median of $38,373 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,900 median debt.
Northampton County Area Community College came in at #10 for value in construction trades this year. Located in the suburb of Bethlehem, Northampton County Area Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,550, compared with $15,270 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,900 to complete the construction trades program here. Construction Trades graduates of Northampton County Area Community College earn a median of $35,960 early in their careers. Set against $18,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
New Castle School Of Trades earned the #11 position for value in construction trades this year. New Castle School Of Trades is a small private for-profit school located in the town of New Castle. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the construction trades program here. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $32,393. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Suny College Of Technology At Alfred earned the #12 position for value in construction trades this year. Set in the rural area of Alfred, Suny College Of Technology At Alfred is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,892 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,837. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the construction trades program here. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Suny College Of Technology At Alfred generally make around $42,278. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg landed the #13 spot for construction trades value this year. Set in the city of Harrisburg, Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,975 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,472. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $15,938. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $36,532. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Union County Vocational Technical School landed the #14 spot for construction trades value this year. Located in the suburb of Scotch Plains, Union County Vocational Technical School is a small public university. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,590 ten years after entry.
Suny College Of Technology At Canton ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value construction trades schools. Set in the town of Canton, Suny College Of Technology At Canton is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,742, while out-of-state students pay about $15,769. Students borrow a median of $23,640 to complete the construction trades program here. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Suny College Of Technology At Canton generally make around $46,515. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Ocean County Vocational Technical School came in at #16 for value in construction trades this year. Ocean County Vocational Technical School is a small public school located in the suburb of Toms River. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Ocean County Vocational Technical School generally make around $27,482.
Laurel Technical Institute landed the #17 spot for construction trades value this year. Laurel Technical Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the rural area of Hermitage. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,431. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $14,143. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $33,129. That is a strong return on a $14,143 median debt. Laurel Technical Institute admits about 85% of applicants.
Rosedale Technical Institute ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value construction trades schools. Rosedale Technical Institute is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Pittsburgh. Students from in state pay about $17,402 in tuition and fees. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $16,000 in student loans. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $37,133. That is a strong return on a $16,000 median debt. Rosedale Technical Institute admits about 75% of applicants.
Laurel Business Institute came in at #19 for value in construction trades this year. Laurel Business Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the town of Uniontown. In-state tuition and fees average $13,713. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $13,918 in student loans. Construction Trades graduates of Laurel Business Institute earn a median of $34,180 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Laurel Business Institute admits about 77% of applicants.
Erie 1 Boces earned the #20 position for value in construction trades this year. Erie 1 Boces is a small public school located in the suburb of West Seneca. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $11,600 in student loans. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $30,190. Set against $11,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North American Trade Schools landed the #21 spot for construction trades value this year. Set in the suburb of Baltimore, North American Trade Schools is a small private for-profit institution. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $10,392 in student loans. Construction Trades graduates of North American Trade Schools earn a median of $35,837 early in their careers. Set against $10,392 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi placed #22 among the best values for construction trades. Set in the rural area of Delhi, Suny College Of Technology At Delhi is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,772 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,762. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $20,303 in student loans. Construction Trades graduates of Suny College Of Technology At Delhi earn a median of $48,647 early in their careers. Set against $20,303 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Adult And Continuing Education Bcts came in at #23 for value in construction trades this year. Located in the suburb of Hackensack, Adult And Continuing Education Bcts is a small public university. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $6,179. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Adult And Continuing Education Bcts generally make around $29,495. Set against $6,179 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Onondaga Cortland Madison Boces placed #24 among the best values for construction trades. Onondaga Cortland Madison Boces is a small public school located in the suburb of Liverpool. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $8,233 in student loans. Construction Trades graduates of Onondaga Cortland Madison Boces earn a median of $24,129 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,233 median debt.
Apex Technical School came in at #25 for value in construction trades this year. Apex Technical School is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Long Island City. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the construction trades program here. Construction Trades graduates of Apex Technical School earn a median of $30,213 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
These schools also delivered strong value for construction trades this year:
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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 · 91 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.