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2026 Best Value Woodworking Schools
Looking for the best-value Woodworking programs programs in the United States? We have ranked 80 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on 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 Woodworking Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Leading the list is Northcentral Technical College, our #1 best-value Woodworking school in the United States. Set in Wausau, WI, Northcentral Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,889, while out-of-state students pay about $7,132. Graduates carry a median of $11,709 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $44,925. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Northcentral Technical College profile
Hennepin Technical College came in at #2 on this year's best-value Woodworking ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Brooklyn Park, MN. Students from in state pay about $5,940 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $17,887 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $49,460. Set against $17,887 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Hennepin Technical College report
Out of the 80 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Madison Area Technical College landed the #3 spot. Located in Madison, WI, Madison Area Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,977, with out-of-state students paying around $7,141. Madison Area Technical College Woodworking students take on a median of $16,812 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $45,413. That is a strong return on a $16,812 median debt. Read more about Madison Area Technical College
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College came in at #4 on this year's best-value Woodworking ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Saint Paul, MN. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,326. Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College Woodworking students take on a median of $17,650 in debt. Median earnings reach $38,399 ten years out. Set against $17,650 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College
Fox Valley Technical College came in at #5 on this year's best-value Woodworking ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Appleton, WI. In-state tuition and fees average $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $7,283. Students borrow a median of $13,319 to complete their Woodworking program here. Fox Valley Technical College alumni report median earnings of $45,684 a decade after entry. Set against $13,319 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Fox Valley Technical College
Moraine Park Technical College placed #6 among the best-value Woodworking schools in the United States. Based in Fond du Lac, WI, Moraine Park Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,819, with out-of-state students paying around $7,084. Moraine Park Technical College Woodworking students take on a median of $11,471 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $44,371. That is a strong return on a $11,471 median debt. More on Moraine Park Technical College
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in Rice Lake, WI, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,926, with out-of-state students paying around $7,169. Students borrow a median of $11,384 to complete their Woodworking program here. Median earnings reach $43,406 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $11,384 median debt. See the full Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College profile
Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Woodworking schools. This public school is set in Lancaster, PA. Students from in state pay about $9,050 in tuition and fees. Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology Woodworking students take on a median of $9,373 in debt. Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology alumni report median earnings of $54,681 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $9,373 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%. Read more about Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology
Milwaukee Area Technical College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value Woodworking schools. Set in Milwaukee, WI, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,184, while out-of-state students pay about $7,427. Graduates carry a median of $18,296 in student loans. Milwaukee Area Technical College alumni report median earnings of $41,113 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Milwaukee Area Technical College
Savannah Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Based in Savannah, GA, Savannah Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,330, with out-of-state students paying around $5,898. Graduates carry a median of $12,843 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $33,018. Set against $12,843 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Savannah Technical College
Austin Community College District came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. Austin Community College District is a public school based in Austin, TX. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,550, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Typical Woodworking student debt is $14,519. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $43,177. That is a strong return on a $14,519 median debt. Get the full Austin Community College District report
Washburn Institute Of Technology offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. Washburn Institute Of Technology is a public school based in Topeka, KS. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,880. Students borrow a median of $11,362 to complete their Woodworking program here. Washburn Institute Of Technology alumni report median earnings of $49,774 a decade after entry. Set against $11,362 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Washburn Institute Of Technology
Eastern Maine Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Based in Bangor, ME, Eastern Maine Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,156, compared with $7,036 for out-of-state students. Typical Woodworking student debt is $17,741. Eastern Maine Community College alumni report median earnings of $41,704 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Eastern Maine Community College report
Pima Community College came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Based in Tucson, AZ, Pima Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,442, with out-of-state students paying around $7,758. The median Woodworking program debt is $10,655. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $39,810. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Pima Community College report
Rhode Island School Of Design offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Rhode Island School Of Design is a private not-for-profit school based in Providence, RI. Students from in state pay about $62,688 in tuition and fees. Typical Woodworking student debt is $26,912. Rhode Island School Of Design alumni report median earnings of $68,140 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 19% of applicants are accepted. See the full Rhode Island School Of Design profile
Central Pennsylvania Institute Of Science And Technology came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Pleasant Gap, PA. Typical Woodworking student debt is $11,840. Median earnings reach $41,677 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Central Pennsylvania Institute Of Science And Technology admits about 96% of applicants. More on Central Pennsylvania Institute Of Science And Technology
Central Carolina Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Woodworking schools. Read the full report on Central Carolina Community College
Northwest School Of Wooden Boat Building ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Woodworking schools. More on Northwest School Of Wooden Boat Building
Western Technical College La Cross came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Western Technical College La Cross report
Francis Tuttle Technology Center offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. Get the full Francis Tuttle Technology Center report
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Massachusetts College Of Art And Design
Bates Technical College placed #22 among the best-value Woodworking schools in the United States. See the full Bates Technical College profile
California College Of The Arts placed #23 among the best-value Woodworking schools in the United States. See the full California College Of The Arts profile
Cape Fear Community College landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Cape Fear Community College
Minneapolis College Of Art And Design placed #25 among the best-value Woodworking schools in the United States. Get the full Minneapolis College Of Art And Design report
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Woodworking Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
The Landing School placed #26 among the best-value Woodworking schools in the United States. More on The Landing School
Pioneer Technology Center placed #27 among the best-value Woodworking schools in the United States. More on Pioneer Technology Center
Utah Valley University ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value Woodworking schools. Read the full report on Utah Valley University
Mendocino College ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value Woodworking schools. See the full Mendocino College profile
Luna Community College came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Luna Community College report
J F Ingram State Technical College landed the #31 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full J F Ingram State Technical College profile
Southern Regional Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. Get the full Southern Regional Technical College report
Hocking College
Hocking College came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Hocking College
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. Get the full University Of Cincinnati Main Campus report
Santiago Canyon College ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best-value Woodworking schools. Get the full Santiago Canyon College report
Columbus Technical College landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Columbus Technical College
Suny College At Buffalo offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. Get the full Suny College At Buffalo report
Villa Maria College placed #38 among the best-value Woodworking schools in the United States. Get the full Villa Maria College report
Southern Crescent Technical College placed #39 among the best-value Woodworking schools in the United States. Read more about Southern Crescent Technical College
Southeast Community College Area ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best-value Woodworking schools. Get the full Southeast Community College Area report
Gateway Community College Phoenix ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Woodworking schools. Read more about Gateway Community College Phoenix
Southern Oklahoma Technology Center came in at #42 in this year's value ranking. See the full Southern Oklahoma Technology Center profile
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi landed the #43 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Suny College Of Technology At Delhi profile
Central Piedmont Community College ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Woodworking schools. Read more about Central Piedmont Community College
Long Beach City College offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. Read the full report on Long Beach City College
College Of Micronesia Fsm came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. More on College Of Micronesia Fsm
Michigan Career And Technical Institute ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value Woodworking schools. More on Michigan Career And Technical Institute
Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins offered strong value this year, earning the #48 position. More on Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins
Cape Girardeau Career And Technology Center placed #49 among the best-value Woodworking schools in the United States. More on Cape Girardeau Career And Technology Center
Northwest Shoals Community College ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value Woodworking schools. See the full Northwest Shoals Community College profile
Best Value Woodworking Schools by Degree Level
Compare value rankings by degree level:
- Best Value Woodworking Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Woodworking Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Woodworking Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Woodworking Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Woodworking Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Woodworking Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Woodworking Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published 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 80 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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