2027 Best Value Carpentry/Carpenter Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Carpentry/Carpenter](/majors/construction-trades/carpenters/carpentry-carpenter/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value carpentry/carpenter schools.
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2027 Best Value Carpentry/Carpenter Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in carpentry/carpenter, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Carpentry/Carpenter Schools
For return on investment in carpentry/carpenter, no school beat Triton College this year. Triton College is a large public school located in the suburb of River Grove. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,070, with out-of-state students paying around $15,330. Typical student debt for carpentry/carpenter graduates is $12,994. Soon after graduation, carpentry/carpenter degree recipients from Triton College generally make around $43,278. That is a strong return on a $12,994 median debt.
Lincoln Land Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in carpentry/carpenter, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,744, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for carpentry/carpenter graduates is $11,272. Soon after graduation, carpentry/carpenter degree recipients from Lincoln Land Community College generally make around $43,834. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ivy Tech Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value carpentry/carpenter schools. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Carpentry/carpenter graduates carry a median of $9,125 in student loans. Early-career carpentry/carpenter graduates make about $51,104. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kaskaskia College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in carpentry/carpenter, landing the #4 spot this year. Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Centralia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800, while out-of-state students pay about $12,570. Students borrow a median of $7,875 to complete the carpentry/carpenter program here. Early-career carpentry/carpenter graduates make about $45,658. That is a strong return on a $7,875 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College earned it the #5 place for carpentry/carpenter. Located in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. 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 the carpentry/carpenter program here. Early-career carpentry/carpenter graduates make about $35,981. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Moraine Park Technical College landed the #6 spot for carpentry/carpenter value this year. Set in the city of Fond du Lac, Moraine Park Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,819 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,084 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for carpentry/carpenter graduates is $11,471. Soon after graduation, carpentry/carpenter degree recipients from Moraine Park Technical College generally make around $39,552. That is a strong return on a $11,471 median debt.
Milwaukee Area Technical College came in at #7 for value in carpentry/carpenter this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,184, while out-of-state students pay about $7,427. Carpentry/carpenter graduates carry a median of $18,296 in student loans. Early-career carpentry/carpenter graduates make about $38,325. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College landed the #8 spot for carpentry/carpenter value this year. Set in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,960, with out-of-state students paying around $7,203. Students borrow a median of $14,997 to complete the carpentry/carpenter program here. Soon after graduation, carpentry/carpenter degree recipients from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College generally make around $42,016. Set against $14,997 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College earned the #9 position for value in carpentry/carpenter this year. City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for carpentry/carpenter graduates is $13,175. Early-career carpentry/carpenter graduates make about $17,697. Set against $13,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Western Technical College La Cross ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value carpentry/carpenter schools. Western Technical College La Cross is a large public school located in the city of La Crosse. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,820, with out-of-state students paying around $7,078. Students borrow a median of $13,669 to complete the carpentry/carpenter program here. Carpentry/carpenter graduates of Western Technical College La Cross earn a median of $43,008 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,669 median debt.
Waukesha County Technical College came in at #11 for value in carpentry/carpenter this year. Waukesha County Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Pewaukee. In-state tuition and fees average $4,803, while out-of-state students pay about $7,046. Typical student debt for carpentry/carpenter graduates is $16,595. Soon after graduation, carpentry/carpenter degree recipients from Waukesha County Technical College generally make around $46,398. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fox Valley Technical College placed #12 among the best values for carpentry/carpenter. Fox Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $7,283. Carpentry/carpenter graduates carry a median of $13,319 in student loans. Early-career carpentry/carpenter graduates make about $44,020. Set against $13,319 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gateway Technical College came in at #13 for value in carpentry/carpenter this year. Gateway Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Kenosha. Students from in state pay about $4,956 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,199. Carpentry/carpenter graduates carry a median of $14,829 in student loans. Early-career carpentry/carpenter graduates make about $42,410. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Madison Area Technical College placed #14 among the best values for carpentry/carpenter. Madison Area Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Madison. In-state tuition and fees average $4,977, with out-of-state students paying around $7,141. Students borrow a median of $16,812 to complete the carpentry/carpenter program here. Carpentry/carpenter graduates of Madison Area Technical College earn a median of $44,279 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,812 median debt.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
