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2026 Best Value Other Construction Trades Schools
Looking for the best-value Other Construction Trades programs programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 41 institutions 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.
So you can compare your options, Trade College evaluated 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 Other Construction Trades Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
North Hennepin Community College earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Brooklyn Park, MN. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,061. North Hennepin Community College Other Construction Trades students take on a median of $21,241 in debt. North Hennepin Community College alumni report median earnings of $51,142 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about North Hennepin Community College
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ivy Tech Community College earned it the #2 place in the United States. Based in Indianapolis, IN, Ivy Tech Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,154, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Graduates carry a median of $11,889 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,186 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Ivy Tech Community College
Mitchell Technical Institute came in at #3 on this year's best-value Other Construction Trades ranking in the United States. Mitchell Technical Institute is a public school based in Mitchell, SD. In-state tuition and fees average $7,524. The median Other Construction Trades program debt is $12,730. Mitchell Technical Institute alumni report median earnings of $50,743 a decade after entry. Set against $12,730 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Mitchell Technical Institute report
You'll get strong value at Cet Salinas, which ranked #4 this year. Based in Salinas, CA, Cet Salinas is a private not-for-profit institution. Graduates carry a median of $6,211 in student loans. Cet Salinas alumni report median earnings of $32,986 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Cet Salinas
A rank of #4 makes Cet Watsonville one of the best values in the United States. Cet Watsonville is a private not-for-profit school based in Watsonville, CA. Students borrow a median of $6,819 to complete their Other Construction Trades program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $32,986. That is a strong return on a $6,819 median debt. See the full Cet Watsonville profile
Montgomery College came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Montgomery College
Los Angeles Trade Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. Get the full Los Angeles Trade Technical College report
Cuyahoga Community College District placed #8 among the best-value Other Construction Trades schools in the United States. More on Cuyahoga Community College District
Renton Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. Read the full report on Renton Technical College
Western Nevada College landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Western Nevada College profile
Lakeshore Technical College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Construction Trades schools. Read more about Lakeshore Technical College
Clover Park Technical College placed #12 among the best-value Other Construction Trades schools in the United States. See the full Clover Park Technical College profile
Eastern Maine Community College landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Eastern Maine Community College
York County Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. See the full York County Community College profile
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi placed #15 among the best-value Other Construction Trades schools in the United States. Get the full Suny College Of Technology At Delhi report
Berks Career And Technology Center came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. More on Berks Career And Technology Center
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Harriman placed #17 among the best-value Other Construction Trades schools in the United States. More on Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Harriman
Northern Maine Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Construction Trades schools. See the full Northern Maine Community College profile
Alpena Community College placed #19 among the best-value Other Construction Trades schools in the United States. More on Alpena Community College
Clinton Essex Warren Washington Boces came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Clinton Essex Warren Washington Boces
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Jacksboro placed #21 among the best-value Other Construction Trades schools in the United States. Read the full report on Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Jacksboro
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Pulaski landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Pulaski
Aaniiih Nakoda College offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. Get the full Aaniiih Nakoda College report
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Shelbyville offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. See the full Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Shelbyville profile
Greater Johnstown Career And Technology Center landed the #25 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Greater Johnstown Career And Technology Center
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Other Construction Trades Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Mountwest Community And Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. See the full Mountwest Community And Technical College profile
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Construction Trades schools. Get the full Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College report
Polytech Adult Education came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. See the full Polytech Adult Education profile
North Central Kansas Technical College landed the #29 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about North Central Kansas Technical College
Onondaga Community College ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best-value Other Construction Trades schools. Read the full report on Onondaga Community College
Mid State Technical College placed #31 among the best-value Other Construction Trades schools in the United States. More on Mid State Technical College
Hudson Valley Community College placed #32 among the best-value Other Construction Trades schools in the United States. More on Hudson Valley Community College
Sisseton Wahpeton College placed #33 among the best-value Other Construction Trades schools in the United States. Get the full Sisseton Wahpeton College report
Pickens Technical College placed #34 among the best-value Other Construction Trades schools in the United States. More on Pickens Technical College
Southern Maine Community College landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Southern Maine Community College
Citrus College
Citrus College offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. Read more about Citrus College
Southern Adventist University came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Southern Adventist University
North Arkansas College came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. Get the full North Arkansas College report
Sinte Gleska University placed #39 among the best-value Other Construction Trades schools in the United States. Read the full report on Sinte Gleska University
Frederick Community College placed #40 among the best-value Other Construction Trades schools in the United States. Get the full Frederick Community College report
Palomar College
Palomar College offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. See the full Palomar College profile
Best Value Other Construction Trades Schools by Degree Level
Explore value rankings for a specific degree level:
- Best Value Other Construction Trades Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Other Construction Trades Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Other Construction Trades Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Other Construction Trades Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Other Construction Trades Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Other Construction Trades Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Other Construction Trades Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled 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 41 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).