2026 Best Construction Trades Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Construction Trades undergraduate certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 893 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor analyzed schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Construction Trades Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
Leading the list is Warren County Career Center, our #1 Construction Trades school in the United States. Warren County Career Center is a public school based in Lebanon, OH. The median Construction Trades program debt is $8,679. Get the full Warren County Career Center report
The strong Construction Trades programs at Northwest Iowa Community College earned it the #2 place in the United States. Northwest Iowa Community College is a public school based in Sheldon, IA. Students from in state pay about $7,350 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,650. Northwest Iowa Community College Construction Trades students take on a median of $5,500 in debt. More on Northwest Iowa Community College
The strong Construction Trades programs at Western Technical College La Cross earned it the #4 place in the United States. Western Technical College La Cross is a public school based in La Crosse, WI. In-state tuition and fees average $4,820, with out-of-state students paying around $7,078. Typical Construction Trades student debt is $13,669. Read more about Western Technical College La Cross
A rank of #5 makes Chippewa Valley Technical College one of the top choices in the United States. This public school is set in Eau Claire, WI. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,844, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Chippewa Valley Technical College Construction Trades students take on a median of $5,500 in debt. Read the full report on Chippewa Valley Technical College
Ivy Tech Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Construction Trades schools. Ivy Tech Community College is a public school based in Indianapolis, IN. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,154, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Students borrow a median of $7,308 to complete their Construction Trades program here. More on Ivy Tech Community College
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College placed #7 among Construction Trades schools in the United States. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a public school based in Fennimore, WI. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,904, with out-of-state students paying around $7,147. Graduates carry a median of $5,225 in student loans. Read the full report on Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
Texas State Technical College landed the #8 spot in the United States this year. Located in Waco, TX, Texas State Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,212, while out-of-state students pay about $11,812. The median Construction Trades program debt is $9,923. See the full Texas State Technical College profile
North American Trade Schools came in at #9 in this year's ranking. This private for-profit school is set in Baltimore, MD. Typical Construction Trades student debt is $10,392. Read more about North American Trade Schools
Lansing Community College placed #10 among Construction Trades schools in the United States. Located in Lansing, MI, Lansing Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,100 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $16,700 in student loans. Read more about Lansing Community College
Bismarck State College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Construction Trades schools. This public school is set in Bismarck, ND. Students from in state pay about $5,247 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,331 for out-of-state students. Bismarck State College Construction Trades students take on a median of $6,666 in debt. Get the full Bismarck State College report
Des Moines Area Community College landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. Located in Ankeny, IA, Des Moines Area Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,790 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. The median Construction Trades program debt is $14,956. Read more about Des Moines Area Community College
Perry Technical Institute ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best Construction Trades schools. Located in Yakima, WA, Perry Technical Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. Typical Construction Trades student debt is $17,860. See the full Perry Technical Institute profile
Mid Eastctc Adult Education did well this year, earning the #14 position. Mid Eastctc Adult Education is a public school based in Zanesville, OH. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete their Construction Trades program here. Read more about Mid Eastctc Adult Education
Mitchell Technical Institute placed #15 among Construction Trades schools in the United States. Based in Mitchell, SD, Mitchell Technical Institute is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,524. Typical Construction Trades student debt is $10,683. See the full Mitchell Technical Institute profile
Lincoln Technical Institute Mahwah placed #16 among Construction Trades schools in the United States. This private for-profit school is set in Mahwah, NJ. Students borrow a median of $13,875 to complete their Construction Trades program here. More on Lincoln Technical Institute Mahwah
Lincoln Technical Institute Union came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Based in Union, NJ, Lincoln Technical Institute Union is a private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $13,875 to complete their Construction Trades program here. Get the full Lincoln Technical Institute Union report
Motoring Technical Training Institute Seekonk ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best Construction Trades schools. Based in Seekonk, MA, Motoring Technical Training Institute Seekonk is a private for-profit institution. The median Construction Trades program debt is $9,262. Get the full Motoring Technical Training Institute Seekonk report
Michigan State University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Michigan State University is a public school based in East Lansing, MI. About 81% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. The median Construction Trades program debt is $25,213. Read more about Michigan State University
Rochester Community And Technical College placed #20 among Construction Trades schools in the United States. This public school is set in Rochester, MN. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,389. Graduates carry a median of $20,291 in student loans. Read the full report on Rochester Community And Technical College
Lincoln Technical Institute Shelton did well this year, earning the #21 position. Set in Shelton, CT, Lincoln Technical Institute Shelton is a private for-profit institution. Lincoln Technical Institute Shelton Construction Trades students take on a median of $13,532 in debt. Read the full report on Lincoln Technical Institute Shelton
Lincoln Technical Institute New Britain ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Construction Trades schools. Lincoln Technical Institute New Britain is a private for-profit school based in New Britain, CT. The median Construction Trades program debt is $16,695. Read the full report on Lincoln Technical Institute New Britain
Moraine Park Technical College came in at #23 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Fond du Lac, WI. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,819, compared with $7,084 for out-of-state students. Moraine Park Technical College Construction Trades students take on a median of $5,500 in debt. Read the full report on Moraine Park Technical College
North Hennepin Community College came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Set in Brooklyn Park, MN, North Hennepin Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,061 in tuition and fees. The median Construction Trades program debt is $21,241. See the full North Hennepin Community College profile
Mesa State College ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best Construction Trades schools. Set in Grand Junction, CO, Mesa State College is a public institution. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,927, while out-of-state students pay about $25,124. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete their Construction Trades program here. Read more about Mesa State College
Dakota County Technical College landed the #27 spot in the United States this year. Set in Rosemount, MN, Dakota County Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,679. Graduates carry a median of $11,974 in student loans. Read more about Dakota County Technical College
Rest of the Top 50 Best Construction Trades Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Western Iowa Tech Community College ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Construction Trades schools. Based in Sioux City, IA, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,186, while out-of-state students pay about $5,330. Graduates carry a median of $11,886 in student loans. Read more about Western Iowa Tech Community College
Lamson Institute placed #29 among Construction Trades schools in the United States. This private for-profit school is set in San Antonio, TX. Graduates carry a median of $8,867 in student loans. See the full Lamson Institute profile
Minnesota State Community And Technical College placed #30 among Construction Trades schools in the United States. Located in Fergus Falls, MN, Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,908. Minnesota State Community And Technical College Construction Trades students take on a median of $8,939 in debt. Read more about Minnesota State Community And Technical College
Minnesota West Community And Technical College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Construction Trades schools. 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. Students borrow a median of $11,089 to complete their Construction Trades program here. Get the full Minnesota West Community And Technical College report
Northern Michigan University ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Construction Trades schools. Located in Marquette, MI, Northern Michigan University is a public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $14,322, compared with $19,944 for out-of-state students. The median Construction Trades program debt is $5,500. More on Northern Michigan University
Lincoln College Of Technology Indianapolis ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Construction Trades schools. Located in Indianapolis, IN, Lincoln College Of Technology Indianapolis is a private for-profit institution. Typical Construction Trades student debt is $15,095. More on Lincoln College Of Technology Indianapolis
Southern California Institute Of Technology ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Construction Trades schools. Set in Anaheim, CA, Southern California Institute Of Technology is a private for-profit institution. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,515. Students borrow a median of $10,270 to complete their Construction Trades program here. See the full Southern California Institute Of Technology profile
Atlantic Technical College ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best Construction Trades schools. This public school is set in Coconut Creek, FL. Graduates carry a median of $9,222 in student loans. Read more about Atlantic Technical College
Cet San Diego ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best Construction Trades schools. Based in San Diego, CA, Cet San Diego is a private not-for-profit institution. The median Construction Trades program debt is $6,425. Read the full report on Cet San Diego
Hillsborough Community College ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Construction Trades schools. Based in Tampa, FL, Hillsborough Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,491, compared with $9,088 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,142 to complete their Construction Trades program here. See the full Hillsborough Community College profile
Pennco Tech Blackwood placed #38 among Construction Trades schools in the United States. Pennco Tech Blackwood is a private for-profit school based in Blackwood, NJ. The median Construction Trades program debt is $9,500. See the full Pennco Tech Blackwood profile
Lincoln Technical Institute East Windsor landed the #39 spot in the United States this year. Based in East Windsor, CT, Lincoln Technical Institute East Windsor is a private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $13,532 to complete their Construction Trades program here. Read more about Lincoln Technical Institute East Windsor
St Cloud Technical And Community College ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best Construction Trades schools. Located in Saint Cloud, MN, St Cloud Technical And Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,124. The median Construction Trades program debt is $8,250. Get the full St Cloud Technical And Community College report
Miami Valley Career Technology Center did well this year, earning the #41 position. Located in Englewood, OH, Miami Valley Career Technology Center is a public institution. The median Construction Trades program debt is $21,064. Read the full report on Miami Valley Career Technology Center
Danville Community College came in at #42 in this year's ranking. Based in Danville, VA, Danville Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,992, with out-of-state students paying around $11,430. Students borrow a median of $9,494 to complete their Construction Trades program here. Read more about Danville Community College
Anoka Technical College landed the #43 spot in the United States this year. Located in Anoka, MN, Anoka Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,267. Typical Construction Trades student debt is $12,850. Read more about Anoka Technical College
Ridgewater College placed #44 among Construction Trades schools in the United States. Set in Willmar, MN, Ridgewater College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,121. Graduates carry a median of $15,556 in student loans. Read more about Ridgewater College
Lamar Institute Of Technology placed #45 among Construction Trades schools in the United States. Set in Beaumont, TX, Lamar Institute Of Technology is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,844, with out-of-state students paying around $12,924. Graduates carry a median of $14,278 in student loans. More on Lamar Institute Of Technology
North Georgia Technical College came in at #46 in this year's ranking. North Georgia Technical College is a public school based in Clarkesville, GA. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,330, while out-of-state students pay about $5,898. Typical Construction Trades student debt is $12,279. See the full North Georgia Technical College profile
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College landed the #47 spot in the United States this year. Located in Saint Paul, MN, Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,326. Graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. See the full Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College profile
Washburn Institute Of Technology landed the #48 spot in the United States this year. Located in Topeka, KS, Washburn Institute Of Technology is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,880. The median Construction Trades program debt is $9,500. Read more about Washburn Institute Of Technology
Cet El Centro did well this year, earning the #49 position. Set in El Centro, CA, Cet El Centro is a private not-for-profit institution. Graduates carry a median of $6,425 in student loans. Read more about Cet El Centro
Intercoast Colleges Rancho Cordova came in at #50 in this year's ranking. Located in Rancho Cordova, CA, Intercoast Colleges Rancho Cordova is a private for-profit institution. Intercoast Colleges Rancho Cordova Construction Trades students take on a median of $11,725 in debt. Get the full Intercoast Colleges Rancho Cordova report
City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College did well this year, earning the #51 position. City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College is a public school based in Chicago, IL. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Graduates carry a median of $6,974 in student loans. Read the full report on City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College
East Mississippi Community College came in at #52 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Scooba, MS. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,095, while out-of-state students pay about $7,445. East Mississippi Community College Construction Trades students take on a median of $5,500 in debt. Read the full report on East Mississippi Community College
Related Construction Trades Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Construction Trades Schools (All Levels)
- Best Construction Trades Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Construction Trades Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Construction Trades Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Construction Trades Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Construction Trades Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Construction Trades Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 893 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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