by our College Data Analytics Team
[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 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for carpentry students.
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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 tops our 2027 list of the best value carpentry schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. 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. The acceptance rate is 22%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Delaware County Community College earned it the #2 place for carpentry. Delaware County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Media. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,930, with out-of-state students paying around $15,540. Students borrow a median of $14,866 to complete the carpentry program here. Soon after graduation, carpentry degree recipients from Delaware County Community College generally make around $40,102. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Community College Of Allegheny County is a great value for students pursuing a degree in carpentry, landing the #3 spot this year. Community College Of Allegheny County is a large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,956, compared with $12,583 for out-of-state students. Carpentry graduates carry a median of $15,263 in student loans. Early-career carpentry graduates make about $47,420. That is a strong return on a $15,263 median debt.
Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology is a great value for students pursuing a degree in carpentry, landing the #4 spot this year. Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology is a small public school located in the city of Lancaster. In-state tuition and fees average $9,050. Students borrow a median of $7,266 to complete the carpentry program here. Carpentry graduates of Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology earn a median of $37,611 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,266 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Suny College Of Technology At Delhi earned it the #5 place for carpentry. Located in the rural area of Delhi, Suny College Of Technology At Delhi is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,772, compared with $12,762 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for carpentry graduates is $20,303. Soon after graduation, carpentry degree recipients from Suny College Of Technology At Delhi generally make around $48,647. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Ocean County Vocational Technical School landed the #6 spot for carpentry value this year. Ocean County Vocational Technical School is a small public school located in the suburb of Toms River. Carpentry graduates of Ocean County Vocational Technical School earn a median of $27,482 early in their careers.
Johnson College landed the #7 spot for carpentry value this year. Johnson College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Scranton. In-state tuition and fees average $21,225. Students borrow a median of $16,083 to complete the carpentry program here. Early-career carpentry graduates make about $40,883. That is a strong return on a $16,083 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Orleans Technical Institute came in at #8 for value in carpentry this year. Orleans Technical Institute is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Carpentry graduates carry a median of $7,521 in student loans. Soon after graduation, carpentry degree recipients from Orleans Technical Institute generally make around $21,916. That is a strong return on a $7,521 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Philadelphia Technician Training ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value carpentry schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Technician Training is a small private not-for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the carpentry program here. Soon after graduation, carpentry degree recipients from Philadelphia Technician Training generally make around $18,592.
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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.