2026 Best Value Carpenters Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Carpenters associate’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 271 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor analyzed schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Carpenters Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Ivy Tech Community College tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Carpenters associate's degree schools in the United States. Set in Indianapolis, IN, Ivy Tech Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Typical Carpenters student debt is $9,125. Median earnings reach $37,186 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Ivy Tech Community College profile
Out of the 271 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Bismarck State College landed the #2 spot. Bismarck State College is a public school based in Bismarck, ND. In-state tuition and fees average $5,247, with out-of-state students paying around $7,331. Typical Carpenters student debt is $13,340. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,277 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Bismarck State College
You'll get strong value at Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology, which ranked #3 this year. This public school is set in Lancaster, PA. In-state tuition and fees average $9,050. The median Carpenters program debt is $7,266. Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology alumni report median earnings of $54,681 a decade after entry. Set against $7,266 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted. See the full Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology profile
Lake Superior College came in at #4 on this year's best-value Carpenters ranking in the United States. Based in Duluth, MN, Lake Superior College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,785. Lake Superior College Carpenters students take on a median of $17,156 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $46,449. Set against $17,156 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Lake Superior College
A rank of #5 makes Manhattan Area Technical College one of the best values in the United States. Manhattan Area Technical College is a public school based in Manhattan, KS. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,844. Typical Carpenters student debt is $15,499. Median earnings reach $51,864 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Manhattan Area Technical College
Honolulu Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. This public school is set in Honolulu, HI. Students from in state pay about $3,174 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,310. Graduates carry a median of $10,868 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $45,105. Set against $10,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about Honolulu Community College
Los Angeles Trade Technical College came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a public school based in Los Angeles, CA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,238, compared with $10,572 for out-of-state students. Los Angeles Trade Technical College Carpenters students take on a median of $14,833 in debt. Median earnings reach $35,233 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on Los Angeles Trade Technical College
Triangle Tech Inc Bethlehem ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. Based in Bethlehem, PA, Triangle Tech Inc Bethlehem is a private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,513. Students borrow a median of $12,610 to complete their Carpenters program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,788 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Triangle Tech Inc Bethlehem
Triangle Tech Inc Sunbury came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. Triangle Tech Inc Sunbury is a private for-profit school based in Sunbury, PA. Students from in state pay about $18,628 in tuition and fees. Triangle Tech Inc Sunbury Carpenters students take on a median of $12,000 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $45,538. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Triangle Tech Inc Sunbury
Ranken Technical College landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Saint Louis, MO, Ranken Technical College is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,008. Ranken Technical College Carpenters students take on a median of $12,000 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $55,955. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Ranken Technical College report
Triangle Tech Inc Pittsburgh ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. Based in Pittsburgh, PA, Triangle Tech Inc Pittsburgh is a private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $18,463 in tuition and fees. The median Carpenters program debt is $20,000. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $51,953. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Triangle Tech Inc Pittsburgh report
Western Technical College La Cross offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. Get the full Western Technical College La Cross report
Gwinnett Technical College landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Gwinnett Technical College
Maysville Community And Technical College landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Maysville Community And Technical College
Barton County Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. See the full Barton County Community College profile
College Of Micronesia Fsm placed #16 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Read more about College Of Micronesia Fsm
Columbus State Community College placed #17 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Read more about Columbus State Community College
University Of Alaska Fairbanks placed #18 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Alaska Fairbanks report
Eastern Iowa Community College District came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Eastern Iowa Community College District report
J F Ingram State Technical College landed the #20 spot for value in the United States this year. More on J F Ingram State Technical College
Oconee Fall Line Technical College landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Oconee Fall Line Technical College
Pensacola State College placed #22 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Get the full Pensacola State College report
Vincennes University placed #23 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. More on Vincennes University
Alexandria Technical And Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. See the full Alexandria Technical And Community College profile
Berks Career And Technology Center ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. More on Berks Career And Technology Center
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Carpenters Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Iowa Central Community College landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Iowa Central Community College profile
Iowa Lakes Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. Read the full report on Iowa Lakes Community College
Ogden Weber Technical College placed #28 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Read more about Ogden Weber Technical College
University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. More on University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus
Yavapai College
Yavapai College placed #30 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Read more about Yavapai College
Hennepin Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. Read more about Hennepin Technical College
Lehigh Career Technical Institute came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Lehigh Career Technical Institute report
Milwaukee Area Technical College came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. See the full Milwaukee Area Technical College profile
Minnesota West Community And Technical College placed #34 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. More on Minnesota West Community And Technical College
Florida Panhandle Technical College landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Florida Panhandle Technical College report
Rio Hondo College offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. More on Rio Hondo College
West Kentucky Community And Technical College ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. Read the full report on West Kentucky Community And Technical College
Parkland College
Parkland College offered strong value this year, earning the #38 position. Read more about Parkland College
Southwest Mississippi Community College landed the #39 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Southwest Mississippi Community College
Western Technology Center came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Western Technology Center report
Atlanta Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. Read more about Atlanta Technical College
Mid Del Technology Center landed the #42 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Mid Del Technology Center
Orleans Technical Institute offered strong value this year, earning the #43 position. Read more about Orleans Technical Institute
American River College placed #44 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Get the full American River College report
Coahoma Community College placed #45 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Read more about Coahoma Community College
College Of Southern Nevada came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. See the full College Of Southern Nevada profile
Coffeyville Community College landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Coffeyville Community College
Kirkwood Community College placed #48 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Read the full report on Kirkwood Community College
Palomar College
Palomar College offered strong value this year, earning the #49 position. Read the full report on Palomar College
Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. Read more about Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College
Related Carpenters Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value Carpenters Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Carpenters Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Carpenters Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Carpenters Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Carpenters Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Carpenters Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Carpenters Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 271 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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