by our College Data Analytics Team
[Carpentry](/majors/construction-trades/carpenters/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 119 schools to find the best return on investment for carpentry students.
What’s on this page:
The right carpentry school can pay off for years to come. That is why we developed our Best Value Carpentry Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Learn more about our methodology
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Carpentry Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the carpentry degrees they offer, see the list below.
Williamson College Of The Trades earned the #1 spot for value among carpentry schools in the United States. Set in the suburb of Media, Williamson College Of The Trades is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $31,611 in tuition and fees. Roughly 22% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Coastal Pines Technical College earned it the #2 place for carpentry. Coastal Pines Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Waycross. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,268, compared with $5,836 for out-of-state students. Carpentry graduates carry a median of $5,812 in student loans. Carpentry graduates of Coastal Pines Technical College earn a median of $39,090 early in their careers. Set against $5,812 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southern Regional Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in carpentry, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of Thomasville, Southern Regional Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,007, with out-of-state students paying around $5,575. Typical student debt for carpentry graduates is $9,086. Carpentry graduates of Southern Regional Technical College earn a median of $44,007 early in their careers. Set against $9,086 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Santiago Canyon College earned it the #4 place for carpentry. Located in the city of Orange, Santiago Canyon College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,164, while out-of-state students pay about $9,612. Typical student debt for carpentry graduates is $5,500. Early-career carpentry graduates make about $34,100. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northwest Shoals Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in carpentry, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Muscle Shoals, Northwest Shoals Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,131 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,001 for out-of-state students. Carpentry graduates carry a median of $13,312 in student loans. Early-career carpentry graduates make about $33,842. Set against $13,312 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Atlanta Technical College landed the #6 spot for carpentry value this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Atlanta Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,382, with out-of-state students paying around $5,950. Carpentry graduates carry a median of $10,646 in student loans. Soon after graduation, carpentry degree recipients from Atlanta Technical College generally make around $35,441. That is a strong return on a $10,646 median debt.
Somerset Community College came in at #7 for value in carpentry this year. Somerset Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Somerset. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Carpentry graduates carry a median of $13,722 in student loans. Carpentry graduates of Somerset Community College earn a median of $35,340 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Spokane Community College placed #8 among the best values for carpentry. Located in the city of Spokane, Spokane Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,461, compared with $6,612 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for carpentry graduates is $16,486. Early-career carpentry graduates make about $39,679. That is a strong return on a $16,486 median debt.
Coahoma Community College earned the #9 position for value in carpentry this year. Coahoma Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Clarksdale. Students from in state pay about $3,490 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for carpentry graduates is $11,745. Carpentry graduates of Coahoma Community College earn a median of $29,600 early in their careers. Set against $11,745 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Kentucky Community And Technical College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value carpentry schools. Located in the city of Paducah, West Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for carpentry graduates is $10,778. Soon after graduation, carpentry degree recipients from West Kentucky Community And Technical College generally make around $31,903. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hazard Community And Technical College came in at #11 for value in carpentry this year. Located in the town of Hazard, Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for carpentry graduates is $12,212. Early-career carpentry graduates make about $32,626. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hinds Community College landed the #12 spot for carpentry value this year. Hinds Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Raymond. In-state tuition and fees average $4,250, while out-of-state students pay about $7,300. Typical student debt for carpentry graduates is $16,385. Soon after graduation, carpentry degree recipients from Hinds Community College generally make around $34,003. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Big Sandy Community And Technical College came in at #13 for value in carpentry this year. Set in the town of Prestonsburg, Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $11,588 to complete the carpentry program here. Soon after graduation, carpentry degree recipients from Big Sandy Community And Technical College generally make around $33,956. That is a strong return on a $11,588 median debt.
Chattahoochee Technical College landed the #14 spot for carpentry value this year. Set in the suburb of Marietta, Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,540, with out-of-state students paying around $6,108. Typical student debt for carpentry graduates is $9,616. Soon after graduation, carpentry degree recipients from Chattahoochee Technical College generally make around $44,673. Set against $9,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Triton College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value carpentry schools. Located in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,070, compared with $15,330 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for carpentry graduates is $12,994. Soon after graduation, carpentry degree recipients from Triton College generally make around $43,278. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Maysville Community And Technical College came in at #16 for value in carpentry this year. Maysville Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Maysville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Carpentry graduates carry a median of $13,031 in student loans. Carpentry graduates of Maysville Community And Technical College earn a median of $37,769 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,031 median debt.
Fayetteville Technical Community College placed #17 among the best values for carpentry. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,628, while out-of-state students pay about $8,772. Students borrow a median of $16,909 to complete the carpentry program here. Carpentry graduates of Fayetteville Technical Community College earn a median of $40,584 early in their careers. Set against $16,909 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Columbus Technical College earned the #18 position for value in carpentry this year. Columbus Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Columbus. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,052, compared with $7,262 for out-of-state students. Carpentry graduates carry a median of $15,845 in student loans. Early-career carpentry graduates make about $37,936. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Metropolitan Community College Area came in at #19 for value in carpentry this year. Located in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,375, compared with $4,950 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for carpentry graduates is $12,799. Soon after graduation, carpentry degree recipients from Metropolitan Community College Area generally make around $45,583. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lincoln Land Community College landed the #20 spot for carpentry value this year. Set in the rural area of Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,744 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for carpentry graduates is $11,272. Early-career carpentry graduates make about $43,834. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Owensboro Community And Technical College placed #21 among the best values for carpentry. Owensboro Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Owensboro. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for carpentry graduates is $9,098. Carpentry graduates of Owensboro Community And Technical College earn a median of $40,462 early in their careers. Set against $9,098 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pensacola State College came in at #22 for value in carpentry this year. Pensacola State College is a large public school located in the city of Pensacola. In-state tuition and fees average $2,361, compared with $9,463 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the carpentry program here. Early-career carpentry graduates make about $45,811. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Arizona College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value carpentry schools. Located in the rural area of Coolidge, Central Arizona College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,250, compared with $4,500 for out-of-state students. Carpentry graduates carry a median of $11,635 in student loans. Carpentry graduates of Central Arizona College earn a median of $48,826 early in their careers. Set against $11,635 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College earned the #24 position for value in carpentry this year. Located in the rural area of Cumberland, Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,687 to complete the carpentry program here. Carpentry graduates of Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College earn a median of $35,946 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bluegrass Community And Technical College came in at #25 for value in carpentry this year. Located in the city of Lexington, Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,808, compared with $6,512 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for carpentry graduates is $13,366. Carpentry graduates of Bluegrass Community And Technical College earn a median of $44,431 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
These schools also delivered strong value for carpentry this year:
Carpentry is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. Browse the parent area of study.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Carpentry/Carpenter | 5,166 |
View All Carpentry Concentrations >
This ranking is produced 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 · 119 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 119 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.