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2026 Best Value Carpenters Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Carpenters associate’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 271 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Trade College reviewed schools to produce 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:
Our analysis found Ivy Tech Community College to be the best-value Carpenters school in the United States. Based 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. Ivy Tech Community College Carpenters students take on a median of $9,125 in debt. Ivy Tech Community College alumni report median earnings of $37,186 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $9,125 median debt. Read more about Ivy Tech Community College
Bismarck State College came in at #2 on this year's best-value Carpenters ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Bismarck, ND. Students from in state pay about $5,247 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,331. Graduates carry a median of $13,340 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,277 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $13,340 median debt. Get the full Bismarck State College report
Out of the 271 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology landed the #3 spot. This public school is set in Lancaster, PA. Students from in state pay about $9,050 in tuition and fees. The median Carpenters program debt is $7,266. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $54,681. That is a strong return on a $7,266 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted. Read more about Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology
Lake Superior College came in at #4 on this year's best-value Carpenters ranking in the United States. Located in Duluth, MN, Lake Superior College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,785. The median Carpenters program debt is $17,156. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $46,449. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Lake Superior College profile
You'll get strong value at Manhattan Area Technical College, which ranked #5 this year. This public school is set in Manhattan, KS. In-state tuition and fees average $9,844. The median Carpenters program debt is $15,499. Manhattan Area Technical College alumni report median earnings of $51,864 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $15,499 median debt. Read the full report on Manhattan Area Technical College
Honolulu Community College placed #6 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Set in Honolulu, HI, Honolulu Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,174, while out-of-state students pay about $8,310. Students borrow a median of $10,868 to complete their Carpenters program here. Median earnings reach $45,105 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Honolulu Community College report
Los Angeles Trade Technical College landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. This public school is set in Los Angeles, CA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,238, with out-of-state students paying around $10,572. Students borrow a median of $14,833 to complete their Carpenters program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $35,233 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Los Angeles Trade Technical College
Triangle Tech Inc Bethlehem ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. Triangle Tech Inc Bethlehem is a private for-profit school based in Bethlehem, PA. Students from in state pay about $18,513 in tuition and fees. Typical Carpenters student debt is $12,610. Triangle Tech Inc Bethlehem alumni report median earnings of $53,788 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $12,610 median debt. Get the full Triangle Tech Inc Bethlehem report
Triangle Tech Inc Sunbury placed #9 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Triangle Tech Inc Sunbury is a private for-profit school based in Sunbury, PA. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,628. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete their Carpenters program here. Triangle Tech Inc Sunbury alumni report median earnings of $45,538 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Triangle Tech Inc Sunbury
Ranken Technical College came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. Set in Saint Louis, MO, Ranken Technical College is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,008. Graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $55,955. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Ranken Technical College
Triangle Tech Inc Pittsburgh ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. This private for-profit school is set in Pittsburgh, PA. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,463. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete their Carpenters program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,953 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Triangle Tech Inc Pittsburgh report
College Of Micronesia Fsm ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. Get the full College Of Micronesia Fsm report
Gadsden Technical Institute placed #13 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Read more about Gadsden Technical Institute
Johnson College
Johnson College placed #14 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Read the full report on Johnson College
Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. More on Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College
Mayland Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Read the full report on Mayland Community College
North Central Kansas Technical College placed #17 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Read the full report on North Central Kansas Technical College
Pioneer Technology Center offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. Read the full report on Pioneer Technology Center
Columbus State Community College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. Read the full report on Columbus State Community College
Gordon Cooper Technology Center offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. Get the full Gordon Cooper Technology Center report
Neosho County Community College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. More on Neosho County Community College
Bakersfield College landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Bakersfield College
Minnesota State Community And Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. Read the full report on Minnesota State Community And Technical College
Surry Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. Read more about Surry Community College
Mohawk Valley Community College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. See the full Mohawk Valley Community College profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Carpenters Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
San Joaquin Delta College offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. Read more about San Joaquin Delta College
Davis Technical College came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Davis Technical College report
Autry Technology Center offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. Read more about Autry Technology Center
Cochise College
Cochise College placed #29 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. More on Cochise College
Emily Griffith Technical College landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Emily Griffith Technical College
Northland Community And Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. See the full Northland Community And Technical College profile
Community College Of Allegheny County placed #32 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Read the full report on Community College Of Allegheny County
Peninsula College landed the #33 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Peninsula College report
Williston State College landed the #34 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Williston State College
College Of Southern Nevada placed #35 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Read the full report on College Of Southern Nevada
North Bennet Street School ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. More on North Bennet Street School
Vance Granville Community College came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Vance Granville Community College
Waynesville Career Center came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Waynesville Career Center
Canadian Valley Technology Center placed #39 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. More on Canadian Valley Technology Center
East Arkansas Community College came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. More on East Arkansas Community College
Okaloosa Technical College came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. More on Okaloosa Technical College
Southwestern Michigan College came in at #42 in this year's value ranking. See the full Southwestern Michigan College profile
Bates Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #43 position. Read more about Bates Technical College
Green Country Technology Center ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. See the full Green Country Technology Center profile
Atlantic Technical College came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Atlantic Technical College report
Cankdeska Cikana Community College ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. Read more about Cankdeska Cikana Community College
Northwest Kansas Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. Get the full Northwest Kansas Technical College report
Delaware County Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #48 position. Read the full report on Delaware County Community College
Gadsden State Community College landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Gadsden State Community College
Metro Technology Centers placed #50 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. More on Metro Technology Centers
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
This list is compiled by Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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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