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2026 Best Construction Trades Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Construction Trades certificate degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 893 institutions 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.
To arm you with the information you need, Trade College analyzed schools to produce 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 Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Leading the list is North Hennepin Community College, our #1 Construction Trades school in the United States. North Hennepin Community College is a public school based in Brooklyn Park, MN. In-state tuition and fees average $5,061. Students borrow a median of $21,241 to complete their Construction Trades program here. Read the full report on North Hennepin Community College
The strong Construction Trades programs at Chippewa Valley Technical College earned it the #2 place in the United States. Located in Eau Claire, WI, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,844, with out-of-state students paying around $7,087. Typical Construction Trades student debt is $5,500. See the full Chippewa Valley Technical College profile
The strong Construction Trades programs at Lansing Community College earned it the #4 place in the United States. Lansing Community College is a public school based in Lansing, MI. In-state tuition and fees average $4,100, with out-of-state students paying around $11,300. Lansing Community College Construction Trades students take on a median of $16,700 in debt. More on Lansing Community College
The strong Construction Trades programs at Ivy Tech Community College earned it the #5 place in the United States. Located in Indianapolis, IN, Ivy Tech Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,154, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. The median Construction Trades program debt is $7,308. Get the full Ivy Tech Community College report
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Based in Fennimore, WI, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a public institution. 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. More on Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
Advanced Training Institute landed the #7 spot in the United States this year. Based in Las Vegas, NV, Advanced Training Institute is a private for-profit institution. Graduates carry a median of $7,600 in student loans. See the full Advanced Training Institute profile
Trinidad State Junior College landed the #8 spot in the United States this year. Trinidad State Junior College is a public school based in Trinidad, CO. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,608, while out-of-state students pay about $7,318. Trinidad State Junior College Construction Trades students take on a median of $3,588 in debt. Read the full report on Trinidad State Junior College
Pickaway Ross Joint Vocational School District placed #9 among Construction Trades schools in the United States. Set in Chillicothe, OH, Pickaway Ross Joint Vocational School District is a public institution. Graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. See the full Pickaway Ross Joint Vocational School District profile
Moraine Park Technical College came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Moraine Park Technical College is a public school based in Fond du Lac, WI. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,819, compared with $7,084 for out-of-state students. The median Construction Trades program debt is $5,500. See the full Moraine Park Technical College profile
Mid Eastctc Adult Education placed #11 among Construction Trades schools in the United States. Located in Zanesville, OH, Mid Eastctc Adult Education is a public institution. Mid Eastctc Adult Education Construction Trades students take on a median of $5,500 in debt. Get the full Mid Eastctc Adult Education report
Western Iowa Tech Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Construction Trades schools. This public school is set in Sioux City, IA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,186, while out-of-state students pay about $5,330. Graduates carry a median of $11,886 in student loans. More on Western Iowa Tech Community College
Tidewater Tech Trades placed #13 among Construction Trades schools in the United States. Tidewater Tech Trades is a private for-profit school based in Norfolk, VA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,337. The median Construction Trades program debt is $9,500. Read more about Tidewater Tech Trades
Washburn Institute Of Technology landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. Located in Topeka, KS, Washburn Institute Of Technology is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,880 in tuition and fees. Typical Construction Trades student debt is $9,500. Read the full report on Washburn Institute Of Technology
Cet Salinas placed #15 among Construction Trades schools in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Salinas, CA. Cet Salinas Construction Trades students take on a median of $6,211 in debt. More on Cet Salinas
Institute For Business And Technology placed #16 among Construction Trades schools in the United States. Institute For Business And Technology is a private for-profit school based in San Jose, CA. Institute For Business And Technology Construction Trades students take on a median of $8,867 in debt. Read the full report on Institute For Business And Technology
City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Set in Chicago, IL, City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College Construction Trades students take on a median of $6,974 in debt. See the full City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College profile
Minnesota West Community And Technical College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Granite Falls, MN. Students from in state pay about $6,491 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $11,089 to complete their Construction Trades program here. See the full Minnesota West Community And Technical College profile
Mitchell Technical Institute did well this year, earning the #19 position. This public school is set in Mitchell, SD. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,524. Graduates carry a median of $10,683 in student loans. Get the full Mitchell Technical Institute report
Mesa State College did well this year, earning the #20 position. Located in Grand Junction, CO, Mesa State College is a public institution. Mesa State College graduates 47% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $9,927 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,124. Mesa State College Construction Trades students take on a median of $5,500 in debt. Get the full Mesa State College report
North Georgia Technical College came in at #21 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, with out-of-state students paying around $5,898. North Georgia Technical College Construction Trades students take on a median of $12,279 in debt. More on North Georgia Technical College
National Career Education did well this year, earning the #22 position. This private for-profit school is set in Citrus Heights, CA. National Career Education Construction Trades students take on a median of $8,867 in debt. Read more about National Career Education
Summit College came in at #23 in this year's ranking. This private for-profit school is set in San Bernardino, CA. Typical Construction Trades student debt is $7,600. Read the full report on Summit College
Augusta Technical College did well this year, earning the #24 position. Located in Augusta, GA, Augusta Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,282 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,492 for out-of-state students. Typical Construction Trades student debt is $11,875. See the full Augusta Technical College profile
Tulsa Technology Center ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Construction Trades schools. Based in Tulsa, OK, Tulsa Technology Center is a public institution. Tulsa Technology Center Construction Trades students take on a median of $11,384 in debt. More on Tulsa Technology Center
Adult And Continuing Education Bcts landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. Adult And Continuing Education Bcts is a public school based in Hackensack, NJ. Typical Construction Trades student debt is $6,179. More on Adult And Continuing Education Bcts
Rest of the Top 50 Best Construction Trades Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Richmond Community College placed #27 among Construction Trades schools in the United States. This public school is set in Hamlet, NC. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,956, with out-of-state students paying around $6,564. Graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Read more about Richmond Community College
Wake Technical Community College did well this year, earning the #28 position. Set in Raleigh, NC, Wake Technical Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,254 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,862. Graduates carry a median of $11,784 in student loans. Read more about Wake Technical Community College
Honolulu Community College ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Construction Trades schools. Set in Honolulu, HI, Honolulu Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,174, while out-of-state students pay about $8,310. Honolulu Community College Construction Trades students take on a median of $12,500 in debt. Get the full Honolulu Community College report
Texas State Technical College came in at #30 in this year's ranking. Based in Waco, TX, Texas State Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,212 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,812. The median Construction Trades program debt is $9,923. Read more about Texas State Technical College
East Mississippi Community College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Construction Trades schools. East Mississippi Community College is a public school based in Scooba, MS. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,095, compared with $7,445 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete their Construction Trades program here. Read more about East Mississippi Community College
Ehove Career Center did well this year, earning the #32 position. Located in Milan, OH, Ehove Career Center is a public institution. The median Construction Trades program debt is $6,333. More on Ehove Career Center
Berk Trade And Business School came in at #33 in this year's ranking. Based in Long Island City, NY, Berk Trade And Business School is a private for-profit institution. Graduates carry a median of $6,333 in student loans. More on Berk Trade And Business School
Orleans Technical Institute ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Construction Trades schools. Set in Philadelphia, PA, Orleans Technical Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. Orleans Technical Institute Construction Trades students take on a median of $7,521 in debt. Get the full Orleans Technical Institute report
Cet Watsonville did well this year, earning the #35 position. Located in Watsonville, CA, Cet Watsonville is a private not-for-profit institution. The median Construction Trades program debt is $6,425. Get the full Cet Watsonville report
Anoka Technical College landed the #36 spot in the United States this year. Based in Anoka, MN, Anoka Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,267. Students borrow a median of $12,850 to complete their Construction Trades program here. See the full Anoka Technical College profile
Manhattan Area Technical College landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. Based in Manhattan, KS, Manhattan Area Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,844. Manhattan Area Technical College Construction Trades students take on a median of $15,499 in debt. More on Manhattan Area Technical College
Tulsa Welding School Jacksonville 1750 Southside Blvd landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. This private for-profit school is set in Jacksonville, FL. Students borrow a median of $7,125 to complete their Construction Trades program here. Read more about Tulsa Welding School Jacksonville 1750 Southside Blvd
Lake Superior College landed the #39 spot in the United States this year. Lake Superior College is a public school based in Duluth, MN. Students from in state pay about $5,785 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,156 to complete their Construction Trades program here. Get the full Lake Superior College report
Horry Georgetown Technical College landed the #40 spot in the United States this year. Horry Georgetown Technical College is a public school based in Conway, SC. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,518, compared with $10,978 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. More on Horry Georgetown Technical College
Ogeechee Technical College ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best Construction Trades schools. This public school is set in Statesboro, GA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,388, while out-of-state students pay about $5,956. Graduates carry a median of $11,894 in student loans. Read the full report on Ogeechee Technical College
South Louisiana Community College came in at #42 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Lafayette, LA. Students from in state pay about $4,210 in tuition and fees. South Louisiana Community College Construction Trades students take on a median of $7,409 in debt. Read more about South Louisiana Community College
Ranken Technical College landed the #43 spot in the United States this year. Ranken Technical College is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Louis, MO. Ranken Technical College graduates 31% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,008. Ranken Technical College Construction Trades students take on a median of $6,712 in debt. Read more about Ranken Technical College
Central Louisiana Technical Community College landed the #44 spot in the United States this year. Based in Alexandria, LA, Central Louisiana Technical Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,098 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,363. Typical Construction Trades student debt is $8,625. See the full Central Louisiana Technical Community College profile
Metropolitan Community College Area came in at #45 in this year's ranking. Metropolitan Community College Area is a public school based in Omaha, NE. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,375, while out-of-state students pay about $4,950. Metropolitan Community College Area Construction Trades students take on a median of $12,350 in debt. Get the full Metropolitan Community College Area report
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Construction Trades schools. Located in Saint Paul, MN, Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,326. The median Construction Trades program debt is $12,000. Get the full Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College report
Big Sandy Community And Technical College came in at #47 in this year's ranking. Set in Prestonsburg, KY, Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $9,625 to complete their Construction Trades program here. More on Big Sandy Community And Technical College
National Career Institute did well this year, earning the #48 position. National Career Institute is a private for-profit school based in East Orange, NJ. Students borrow a median of $6,756 to complete their Construction Trades program here. Get the full National Career Institute report
Atlanta Technical College did well this year, earning the #49 position. Located in Atlanta, GA, Atlanta Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,382, while out-of-state students pay about $5,950. Atlanta Technical College Construction Trades students take on a median of $10,646 in debt. Read the full report on Atlanta Technical College
Southwestern Illinois College did well this year, earning the #50 position. Based in Belleville, IL, Southwestern Illinois College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,230, compared with $6,720 for out-of-state students. The median Construction Trades program debt is $10,388. Read the full report on Southwestern Illinois College
Red Rocks Community College landed the #51 spot in the United States this year. Set in Lakewood, CO, Red Rocks Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,859, compared with $17,459 for out-of-state students. Red Rocks Community College Construction Trades students take on a median of $14,471 in debt. Read more about Red Rocks Community College
Related Construction Trades Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Construction Trades Schools (All Levels)
- Best Construction Trades Undergraduate 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 Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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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