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2026 Best Construction Trades Schools in Illinois

1 Colleges in the United States
1,969 Construction Trades Degrees Awarded
$42,816 Avg Early-Career Salary

Construction Trades degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

College Factual analyzed 29 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best construction trades schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Construction Trades in Illinois

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

No school ranked higher than City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College this year for construction trades. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 535 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College in the most recent data year. Construction Trades graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College earn a median of $33,326 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $7,500 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in construction trades from City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College

2
Kaskaskia College crest
Kaskaskia College
Centralia, IL

Kaskaskia College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in construction trades, ranking #2. Located in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public university. About 76 construction trades degrees were awarded at Kaskaskia College in the most recent year. Students who receive their construction trades degree from Kaskaskia College earn around $45,658 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $7,875 to complete this degree. Get the full construction trades details for Kaskaskia College

3

Heartland Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in construction trades, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Heartland Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 15 construction trades degrees were awarded at Heartland Community College in the most recent year. Construction Trades graduates of Heartland Community College earn a median of $48,710 early in their careers. Heartland Community College graduates carry a median of $13,266 in student loans. More information about a degree in construction trades from Heartland Community College

4

Students looking for a strong construction trades program will find one at Illinois Valley Community College, which ranked #4. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Oglesby. Illinois Valley Community College awarded about 43 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Illinois Valley Community College generally make around $33,224. Students borrow a median of $8,099 to complete this degree. See the full construction trades program report for Illinois Valley Community College

5
Rock Valley College crest
Rock Valley College
Rockford, IL

Rock Valley College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best construction trades schools. Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rockford. Rock Valley College awarded about 24 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their construction trades degree from Rock Valley College earn around $41,080 in the first couple years of their career. Rock Valley College graduates carry a median of $9,236 in student loans. Read more about the construction trades program at Rock Valley College

6

City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College earned the #6 position for construction trades this year. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College is a mid-sized public institution. City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College awarded about 154 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Construction Trades graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College earn a median of $105,131 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $6,974. Get the full construction trades details for City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College

7

Southwestern Illinois College earned the #7 position for construction trades this year. Southwestern Illinois College is a large public school located in the suburb of Belleville. There were roughly 109 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Southwestern Illinois College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $44,345 in their early career. Southwestern Illinois College graduates carry a median of $10,388 in student loans. Get the full construction trades details for Southwestern Illinois College

8
Lake Land College crest
Lake Land College
Mattoon, IL

Lake Land College came in at #8 for construction trades this year. Located in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public university. About 596 construction trades degrees were awarded at Lake Land College in the most recent year. Construction Trades graduates of Lake Land College earn a median of $12,838 early in their careers. Lake Land College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in construction trades from Lake Land College

9
Triton College crest
Triton College
River Grove, IL

Triton College placed #9 among the best construction trades schools. Set in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public institution. About 64 construction trades degrees were awarded at Triton College in the most recent year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $43,278 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,994. More information about a degree in construction trades from Triton College

10

Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best construction trades schools. This large public university is located in the town of Olney. There were roughly 12 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their construction trades degree from Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College earn around $38,331 in the first couple years of their career. Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College graduates carry a median of $9,434 in student loans. Read more about the construction trades program at Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College

11

John Wood Community College placed #11 among the best construction trades schools. Located in the town of Quincy, John Wood Community College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 23 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at John Wood Community College in the most recent data year. Construction Trades graduates of John Wood Community College earn a median of $45,748 early in their careers. John Wood Community College graduates carry a median of $13,844 in student loans. See the full construction trades program report for John Wood Community College

12
Prairie State College crest
Prairie State College
Chicago Heights, IL

Prairie State College came in at #12 for construction trades this year. Located in the suburb of Chicago Heights, Prairie State College is a moderately-sized public university. About 17 construction trades degrees were awarded at Prairie State College in the most recent year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $37,500 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,663. Read more about the construction trades program at Prairie State College

13

Lincoln College Of Technology Melrose Park ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best construction trades schools. Set in the suburb of Melrose Park, Lincoln College Of Technology Melrose Park is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. About 265 construction trades degrees were awarded at Lincoln College Of Technology Melrose Park in the most recent year. Students who receive their construction trades degree from Lincoln College Of Technology Melrose Park earn around $38,050 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,858 to complete this degree. See the full construction trades program report for Lincoln College Of Technology Melrose Park

14

Hvac Technical Institute ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best construction trades schools. Hvac Technical Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Hvac Technical Institute awarded about 36 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Hvac Technical Institute generally make around $32,208. Students borrow a median of $6,861 to complete this degree. See the full construction trades program report for Hvac Technical Institute

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 29 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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