2023 Best Value Construction Trades Schools
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
Finding the Best Construction Trades School for You
Construction Trades is the #35 most popular major in the country with 35,794 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.
Today's students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Value Construction Trades Schools to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 152 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best value programs for construction trades students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
Top 15% Best Construction Trades Schools
Our analysis found North Hennepin Community College to be the best value school for construction trades students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. North Hennepin Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the large suburb of Brooklyn Park.
North Hennepin Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,882 in tuition and fees each year. On average, construction trades graduates from North Hennepin Community College take out $15,125 in student loans while working on their degree.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, North Hennepin Community College also is in the top 10% of our Best Construction Trades Schools ranking.
Request Information
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Southeast Community College Area. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Construction Trades Schools list. Located in the large city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Southeast Community College are $3,780 a year.
Request Information
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Western Technical College is a great value for construction trades students. Located in the small city of La Crosse, Western Technical College is a public college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Western Technical College are $6,687 a year. The average amount in student loans that construction trades majors at Western Technical College take out is $5,500.
Full Construction Trades at Western Technical College Report
Request Information
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Northwest Iowa Community College is a great value for construction trades students. Located in the rural area of Sheldon, Northwest Iowa Community College is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Northwest Iowa Community College are $6,840 per year. After completing their degree, construction trades graduates from Northwest Iowa Community College carry an average student debtload of $9,033.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Northwest Iowa Community College also is in the top 10% of our Best Construction Trades Schools ranking.
Request Information
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Western Iowa Tech Community College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Construction Trades Schools list. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the small city of Sioux City.
Western Iowa Tech Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,826 in tuition and fees each year.
Full Construction Trades at Western Iowa Tech Community College Report
Request Information
Chippewa Valley Technical College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value construction trades programs. Located in the city of Eau Claire, CVTC is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at CVTC are $6,683 per year. After completing their degree, construction trades graduates from CVTC carry an average student debtload of $6,267.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, CVTC also did well on our Best Construction Trades Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Request Information
With a ranking of #7, Rochester Community and Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for construction trades students. Located in the city of Rochester, Rochester Community and Technical College is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Rochester Community and Technical College are $5,372 a year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Rochester Community and Technical College also did well on our Best Construction Trades Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Request Information
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value construction trades programs. Southwest Tech is a small public school located in the rural area of Fennimore.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southwest Tech are $6,683 per year. After completing their degree, construction trades graduates from Southwest Tech carry an average student debtload of $5,500.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Southwest Tech also did well on our Best Construction Trades Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Full Construction Trades at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Report
Request Information
With a ranking of #9, Northeast Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for construction trades students. Northeast is a medium-sized public school located in the town of Norfolk.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Northeast are $5,010 per year. On average, construction trades graduates from Northeast take out $12,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
Read full report on Construction Trades at Northeast Community College
Request Information
Raritan Valley Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Construction Trades Schools list. Located in the rural area of Branchburg, RVCC is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at RVCC are $6,912 per year.
Full Construction Trades at Raritan Valley Community College Report
Request Information
Trinidad State Junior College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Construction Trades Schools list. Trinidad State Junior College is a small public school located in the town of Trinidad.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Trinidad State Junior College are $6,631 a year.
Read full report on Construction Trades at Trinidad State Junior College
Request Information
Bismarck State College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Construction Trades Schools list. BSC is a small public school located in the small city of Bismarck.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at BSC are $6,930 per year. On average, construction trades graduates from BSC take out $7,830 in student loans while working on their degree.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, BSC also is in the top 5% of our Best Construction Trades Schools ranking.
Request Information
With a ranking of #13, Moraine Park Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for construction trades students. Moraine Park Technical College is a small public school located in the city of Fond du Lac.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Moraine Park Technical College are $6,683 a year. The average amount in student loans that construction trades majors at Moraine Park Technical College take out is $4,000.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Moraine Park Technical College also is in the top 15% of our Best Construction Trades Schools ranking.
Full Construction Trades at Moraine Park Technical College Report
Request Information
With a ranking of #14, Ivy Tech Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for construction trades students. Ivy Tech Community College is a fairly large public school located in the city of Indianapolis.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Ivy Tech Community College are $8,927 per year. On average, construction trades graduates from Ivy Tech Community College take out $8,666 in student loans while working on their degree.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Ivy Tech Community College also did well on our Best Construction Trades Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Request Information
North Georgia Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for construction trades students. It came in at #15 on the list. North Georgia Technical College is a small public school located in the rural area of Clarkesville.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at North Georgia Technical College are $5,422 per year.
Request Information
With a ranking of #16, Minnesota State Community and Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for construction trades students. M State is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Fergus Falls.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at M State are $5,862 a year. While working on their degree, construction trades majors at M State accumulate an average of around $5,500 in student debt.
Read full report on Construction Trades at Minnesota State Community and Technical College
Request Information
Metropolitan Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for construction trades students. It came in at #17 on the list. Located in the city of Omaha, MCC is a public school with a fairly large student population.
MCC undergraduate students pay an average of $4,680 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, construction trades graduates from MCC carry an average student debtload of $15,222.
Request Information
Augusta Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for construction trades students. It came in at #18 on the list. Augusta Technical College is a small public school located in the medium-sized city of Augusta.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Augusta Technical College are $5,632 a year. While working on their degree, construction trades majors at Augusta Technical College accumulate an average of around $7,922 in student debt.
Read full report on Construction Trades at Augusta Technical College
Request Information
St Cloud Technical and Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for construction trades students. It came in at #19 on the list. St Cloud Technical and Community College is a small public school located in the city of Saint Cloud.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at St Cloud Technical and Community College are $5,874 a year. While working on their degree, construction trades majors at St Cloud Technical and Community College accumulate an average of around $6,340 in student debt.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, St Cloud Technical and Community College also did well on our Best Construction Trades Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Request Information
Ridgewater College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Construction Trades Schools ranking. Ridgewater College is a small public school located in the town of Willmar.
Ridgewater College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,914 in tuition and fees each year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Ridgewater College also did well on our Best Construction Trades Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Full Construction Trades at Ridgewater College Report
Request Information
With a ranking of #21, Mitchell Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for construction trades students. Located in the rural area of Mitchell, Mitchell Tech is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Mitchell Tech are $7,524 per year. On average, construction trades graduates from Mitchell Tech take out $9,667 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $156, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Mitchell Tech also is in the top 20% of our Best Construction Trades Schools ranking.
Full Construction Trades at Mitchell Technical College Report
Request Information
With a ranking of #22, Dakota County Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for construction trades students. Located in the rural area of Rosemount, DCTC is a public college with a small student population.
DCTC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,208 in tuition and fees each year. Construction Trades majors at DCTC take out an average of $12,750 in student loans while working on their egree.
In addition to its great value ranking, DCTC is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Construction Trades Schools list.
Read full report on Construction Trades at Dakota County Technical College
Request InformationHonorable Mentions
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Construction Trades Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Saint Paul College | Saint Paul, MN |
| 24 | Anoka Technical College | Anoka, MN |
| 25 | South Louisiana Community College | Lafayette, LA |
| 26 | Central Louisiana Technical Community College | Alexandria, LA |
| 27 | Lake Area Technical Institute | Watertown, SD |
| 28 | Brookdale Community College | Lincroft, NJ |
| 29 | Northland Community and Technical College | Thief River Falls, MN |
| 30 | Des Moines Area Community College | Ankeny, IA |
Construction Trades by Region
View the Best Value Construction Trades Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
More Construction Trades Rankings
Construction Trades Related Majors for Construction Trades
Construction Trades Majors to Study
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Electrical & Power Transmission Installers | 23,527 |
| Building Management & Inspection | 4,511 |
| Carpentry | 3,273 |
| Plumbing & Water Supply | 2,617 |
| Construction | 1,435 |
| Masonry | 274 |
| Other Construction | 157 |
Most Popular Majors Related to Construction Trades
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Personal & Culinary Services | 130,328 |
| Mechanic & Repair Technologies | 96,336 |
| Precision Production | 52,913 |
| Transportation & Materials Moving | 29,084 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.