2026 Best Value Carpenters Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Carpenters certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 271 institutions 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.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor analyzed schools to compile 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 Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Western Iowa Tech Community College earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. Located in Sioux City, IA, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,186, compared with $5,330 for out-of-state students. The median Carpenters program debt is $11,886. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,473. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Western Iowa Tech Community College
A rank of #3 makes Augusta Technical College one of the best values in the United States. Set in Augusta, GA, Augusta Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,282, compared with $7,492 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $11,400 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $33,523. That is a strong return on a $11,400 median debt. Get the full Augusta Technical College report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Metropolitan Community College Area earned it the #4 place in the United States. Metropolitan Community College Area is a public school based in Omaha, NE. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,375, while out-of-state students pay about $4,950. Metropolitan Community College Area Carpenters students take on a median of $12,799 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,773. That is a strong return on a $12,799 median debt. Get the full Metropolitan Community College Area report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Washburn Institute Of Technology earned it the #5 place in the United States. Located in Topeka, KS, Washburn Institute Of Technology is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,880 in tuition and fees. The median Carpenters program debt is $11,362. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,774 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $11,362 median debt. More on Washburn Institute Of Technology
Lake Superior College came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Set in Duluth, MN, Lake Superior College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,785. Graduates carry a median of $17,156 in student loans. Lake Superior College alumni report median earnings of $46,449 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Lake Superior College
Ogeechee Technical College placed #7 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Located in Statesboro, GA, Ogeechee Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,388, while out-of-state students pay about $5,956. Typical Carpenters student debt is $11,894. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $31,248. Set against $11,894 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Ogeechee Technical College
Atlanta Technical College came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. Located in Atlanta, GA, Atlanta Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,382, with out-of-state students paying around $5,950. Students borrow a median of $10,646 to complete their Carpenters program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $30,350. Set against $10,646 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Atlanta Technical College
Honolulu Community College landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Honolulu, HI, Honolulu Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,174, while out-of-state students pay about $8,310. The median Carpenters program debt is $10,868. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $45,105. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Honolulu Community College
Manhattan Area Technical College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. This public school is set in Manhattan, KS. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,844. Graduates carry a median of $15,499 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,864 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Manhattan Area Technical College
Minnesota West Community And Technical College came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. Located in Granite Falls, MN, Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,491. The median Carpenters program debt is $13,946. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,285 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Minnesota West Community And Technical College
City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College placed #12 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College is a public school based in Chicago, IL. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Typical Carpenters student debt is $13,175. Graduates go on to earn a median of $28,467 ten years after entry. Set against $13,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College
Ranken Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Ranken Technical College is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Louis, MO. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,008. Graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Ranken Technical College alumni report median earnings of $55,955 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. More on Ranken Technical College
Central New Mexico Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. This public school is set in Albuquerque, NM. Students from in state pay about $2,060 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Central New Mexico Community College Carpenters students take on a median of $10,112 in debt. Median earnings reach $36,869 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Central New Mexico Community College profile
Delaware County Community College landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Media, PA, Delaware County Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,930, while out-of-state students pay about $15,540. Graduates carry a median of $14,866 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,391 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $14,866 median debt. Get the full Delaware County Community College report
Big Sandy Community And Technical College came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Prestonsburg, KY. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. The median Carpenters program debt is $11,588. Median earnings reach $32,954 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $11,588 median debt. More on Big Sandy Community And Technical College
Orleans Technical Institute offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Orleans Technical Institute is a private not-for-profit school based in Philadelphia, PA. The median Carpenters program debt is $7,521. Orleans Technical Institute alumni report median earnings of $38,668 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $7,521 median debt. About 80% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Orleans Technical Institute
Tulsa Technology Center placed #17 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Tulsa Technology Center is a public school based in Tulsa, OK. Typical Carpenters student debt is $11,384. Median earnings reach $41,793 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Tulsa Technology Center profile
Fort Myers Technical College placed #18 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Get the full Fort Myers Technical College report
Maysville Community And Technical College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. Read the full report on Maysville Community And Technical College
Mid Del Technology Center landed the #20 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Mid Del Technology Center
Ocean County Vocational Technical School offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Get the full Ocean County Vocational Technical School report
Fox Valley Technical College came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Fox Valley Technical College report
Green River Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. More on Green River Community College
Jefferson Community And Technical College came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. See the full Jefferson Community And Technical College profile
Montana State University Billings landed the #25 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Montana State University Billings
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Carpenters Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Kirkwood Community College ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. More on Kirkwood Community College
Hillsborough Community College ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. Get the full Hillsborough Community College report
Mayland Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. Read more about Mayland Community College
Peninsula College came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. See the full Peninsula College profile
Southwestern Michigan College offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. Read more about Southwestern Michigan College
New Mexico State University Carlsbad ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. Read the full report on New Mexico State University Carlsbad
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College landed the #32 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Southwest Wisconsin Technical College profile
North Idaho College placed #33 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Read more about North Idaho College
Pamlico Community College placed #34 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. See the full Pamlico Community College profile
Wichita Area Technical College placed #35 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Get the full Wichita Area Technical College report
Garden City Community College placed #36 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. More on Garden City Community College
Johnson College
Johnson College offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. See the full Johnson College profile
Moraine Park Technical College placed #38 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Read the full report on Moraine Park Technical College
Renton Technical College ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. Read more about Renton Technical College
Fullerton College placed #40 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Read the full report on Fullerton College
South Georgia Technical College landed the #41 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about South Georgia Technical College
Northwest Shoals Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. Get the full Northwest Shoals Community College report
Emily Griffith Technical College landed the #43 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Emily Griffith Technical College
Florida Panhandle Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #44 position. Read more about Florida Panhandle Technical College
Gadsden State Community College came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Gadsden State Community College report
Triangle Tech Inc Sunbury ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. Get the full Triangle Tech Inc Sunbury report
Kauai Community College ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. See the full Kauai Community College profile
Minnesota State College Southeast Technical placed #48 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Get the full Minnesota State College Southeast Technical report
Cuyahoga Community College District ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. Get the full Cuyahoga Community College District report
Mid State Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. Read more about Mid State Technical College
Related Carpenters Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Carpenters Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Carpenters Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Carpenters Associate’s 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
This list is compiled 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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