2026 Best Value Carpentry Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Carpentry](/majors/construction-trades/carpenters/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 29 schools to find the best return on investment for carpentry students.
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2026 Best Value Carpentry Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in carpentry, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Carpentry Schools
City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College tops our 2026 list of the best value carpentry schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Carpentry graduates carry a median of $13,175 in student loans. Soon after graduation, carpentry degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College generally make around $17,697. Set against $13,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ivy Tech Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value carpentry schools. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,154, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Typical student debt for carpentry graduates is $9,125. Soon after graduation, carpentry degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $51,104. That is a strong return on a $9,125 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kaskaskia College earned it the #3 place for carpentry. Located in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800, while out-of-state students pay about $12,570. Students borrow a median of $7,875 to complete the carpentry program here. Carpentry graduates of Kaskaskia College earn a median of $45,658 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,875 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in carpentry will find it at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, which ranked #4. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rice Lake. Students from in state pay about $4,926 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,169. Students borrow a median of $11,384 to complete the carpentry program here. Carpentry graduates of Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College earn a median of $35,981 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Waukesha County Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in carpentry, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,803 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,046. Typical student debt for carpentry graduates is $16,595. Early-career carpentry graduates make about $46,398. Set against $16,595 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Milwaukee Area Technical College earned the #6 position for value in carpentry this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,184, with out-of-state students paying around $7,427. Carpentry graduates carry a median of $18,296 in student loans. Soon after graduation, carpentry degree recipients from Milwaukee Area Technical College generally make around $38,325. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College came in at #7 for value in carpentry this year. Set in the rural area of Fennimore, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,904, with out-of-state students paying around $7,147. Students borrow a median of $12,112 to complete the carpentry program here. Early-career carpentry graduates make about $42,087. Set against $12,112 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College earned the #8 position for value in carpentry this year. Set in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,960, compared with $7,203 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for carpentry graduates is $14,997. Early-career carpentry graduates make about $42,016. That is a strong return on a $14,997 median debt.
Fox Valley Technical College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value carpentry schools. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, with out-of-state students paying around $7,283. Typical student debt for carpentry graduates is $13,319. Carpentry graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $44,020 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,319 median debt.
Madison Area Technical College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value carpentry schools. Madison Area Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Madison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,977, while out-of-state students pay about $7,141. Typical student debt for carpentry graduates is $16,812. Early-career carpentry graduates make about $44,279. That is a strong return on a $16,812 median debt.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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 · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
