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2026 Best Value Carpenters Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Carpenters certificate degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 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 arm you with the information you need, Trade College reviewed 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 Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Our analysis found Western Iowa Tech Community College to be the best-value Carpenters school in the United States. Located in Sioux City, IA, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,186, compared with $5,330 for out-of-state students. Typical Carpenters student debt is $11,886. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,473 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $11,886 median debt. Get the full Western Iowa Tech Community College report
A rank of #3 makes Augusta Technical College one of the best values in the United States. Located in Augusta, GA, Augusta Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,282, with out-of-state students paying around $7,492. Augusta Technical College Carpenters students take on a median of $11,400 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $33,523. Set against $11,400 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about Augusta Technical College
A rank of #4 makes Metropolitan Community College Area one of the best values in the United States. Set in Omaha, NE, Metropolitan Community College Area is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,375, with out-of-state students paying around $4,950. Typical Carpenters student debt is $12,799. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $38,773. That is a strong return on a $12,799 median debt. Read more about Metropolitan Community College Area
Out of the 271 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Washburn Institute Of Technology landed the #5 spot. This public school is set in Topeka, KS. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,880. Graduates carry a median of $11,362 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,774 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Washburn Institute Of Technology profile
Lake Superior College came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Duluth, MN. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,785. Typical Carpenters student debt is $17,156. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $46,449. That is a strong return on a $17,156 median debt. Read more about Lake Superior College
Ogeechee Technical College came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. Ogeechee Technical College is a public school based in Statesboro, GA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,388, compared with $5,956 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,894 to complete their Carpenters program here. Ogeechee Technical College alumni report median earnings of $31,248 a decade after entry. Set against $11,894 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Ogeechee Technical College report
Atlanta Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. Set in Atlanta, GA, Atlanta Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,382, compared with $5,950 for out-of-state students. Typical Carpenters student debt is $10,646. Median earnings reach $30,350 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on Atlanta Technical College
Honolulu Community College came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. Set in Honolulu, HI, Honolulu Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,174, compared with $8,310 for out-of-state students. Honolulu Community College Carpenters students take on a median of $10,868 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $45,105. Set against $10,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Honolulu Community College
Manhattan Area Technical College came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Manhattan, KS. Students from in state pay about $9,844 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $15,499 to complete their Carpenters program here. 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. More on Manhattan Area Technical College
Minnesota West Community And Technical College placed #11 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a public school based in Granite Falls, MN. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,491. Students borrow a median of $13,946 to complete their Carpenters program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $45,285. That is a strong return on a $13,946 median debt. More on Minnesota West Community And Technical College
City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. 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, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $13,175 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $28,467. Set against $13,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College
Ranken Technical College placed #13 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. 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. The median Carpenters program debt is $12,000. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,955. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. See the full Ranken Technical College profile
Central New Mexico Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. Central New Mexico Community College is a public school based in Albuquerque, NM. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,060, while out-of-state students pay about $8,684. Central New Mexico Community College Carpenters students take on a median of $10,112 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $36,869 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Central New Mexico Community College
Delaware County Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. Delaware County Community College is a public school based in Media, PA. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,930, compared with $15,540 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $14,866 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $45,391. That is a strong return on a $14,866 median debt. Read the full report on Delaware County Community College
Big Sandy Community And Technical College placed #16 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. This public school is set in Prestonsburg, KY. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Big Sandy Community And Technical College Carpenters students take on a median of $11,588 in debt. Big Sandy Community And Technical College alumni report median earnings of $32,954 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on Big Sandy Community And Technical College
Orleans Technical Institute came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Orleans Technical Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $7,521 to complete their Carpenters program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,668. That is a strong return on a $7,521 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted. Get the full Orleans Technical Institute report
Tulsa Technology Center ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. Located in Tulsa, OK, Tulsa Technology Center is a public institution. Students borrow a median of $11,384 to complete their Carpenters program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,793 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Tulsa Technology Center
Greater Altoona Career And Technology Center offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. Read more about Greater Altoona Career And Technology Center
Kiamichi Technology Center Mcalester landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Kiamichi Technology Center Mcalester
York Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. More on York Technical College
New Mexico State University Carlsbad came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. See the full New Mexico State University Carlsbad profile
Delta Montrose Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Read more about Delta Montrose Technical College
Cape Girardeau Career And Technology Center landed the #23 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Cape Girardeau Career And Technology Center profile
Eastern Arizona College offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. Get the full Eastern Arizona College report
Southwestern Illinois College placed #25 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Get the full Southwestern Illinois College report
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Carpenters Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
New Mexico State University Grants offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. Read more about New Mexico State University Grants
Sowela Technical Community College placed #27 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Read the full report on Sowela Technical Community College
Mesa Community College placed #28 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Read the full report on Mesa Community College
Green River Community College ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. Read more about Green River Community College
Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology
Alexandria Technical And Community College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. See the full Alexandria Technical And Community College profile
High Plains Technology Center landed the #32 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on High Plains Technology Center
Central Technology Center offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. See the full Central Technology Center profile
Macomb Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. Read the full report on Macomb Community College
Triangle Tech Inc Bethlehem offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. More on Triangle Tech Inc Bethlehem
Edmonds Community College ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. More on Edmonds Community College
Kansas City Kansas Community College ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. More on Kansas City Kansas Community College
Luna Community College ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. See the full Luna Community College profile
Madison Area Technical College came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Madison Area Technical College
Uintah Basin Technical College landed the #40 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Uintah Basin Technical College
University Of Alaska Southeast landed the #41 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Alaska Southeast report
Lanier Technical College landed the #42 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Lanier Technical College
Walla Walla Community College placed #43 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Read more about Walla Walla Community College
Cankdeska Cikana Community College ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. Read more about Cankdeska Cikana Community College
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College placed #45 among the best-value Carpenters schools in the United States. Read more about Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
Highland Community College Highland came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. See the full Highland Community College Highland profile
Savannah Technical College came in at #47 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Savannah Technical College report
Great Plains Technology Center offered strong value this year, earning the #48 position. Read more about Great Plains Technology Center
Southwest Technology Center ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value Carpenters schools. More on Southwest Technology Center
College Of Southern Nevada offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. More on College Of Southern Nevada
Related Carpenters Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at 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
The ranking above is published by Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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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