2026 Best Value General Construction Trades Schools in the Far Western Region
[General Construction Trades](/majors/construction-trades/general-construction/construction-trades-general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general construction trades students.
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2026 Best Value General Construction Trades Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general construction trades, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Construction Trades Schools
For return on investment in general construction trades, no school beat Honolulu Community College this year. Honolulu Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Honolulu. Students from in state pay about $3,174 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,310. Typical student debt for general construction trades graduates is $12,500. Soon after graduation, general construction trades degree recipients from Honolulu Community College generally make around $86,741. Set against $12,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in general construction trades will find it at Mt Hood Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Gresham, Mt Hood Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,247, while out-of-state students pay about $9,819. Typical student debt for general construction trades graduates is $18,767. Soon after graduation, general construction trades degree recipients from Mt Hood Community College generally make around $53,948. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Truckee Meadows Community College earned it the #3 place for general construction trades. Truckee Meadows Community College is a large public school located in the city of Reno. Students from in state pay about $3,352 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,018. Students borrow a median of $12,290 to complete the general construction trades program here. General Construction Trades graduates of Truckee Meadows Community College earn a median of $52,785 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,290 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Portland Community College earned it the #4 place for general construction trades. Set in the city of Portland, Portland Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,220, while out-of-state students pay about $10,440. Students borrow a median of $20,648 to complete the general construction trades program here. General Construction Trades graduates of Portland Community College earn a median of $49,580 early in their careers. Set against $20,648 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Western Nevada College one of the best values for general construction trades. Western Nevada College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Carson City. Students from in state pay about $4,168 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,834. Students borrow a median of $15,948 to complete the general construction trades program here. General Construction Trades graduates of Western Nevada College earn a median of $47,257 early in their careers. Set against $15,948 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Perry Technical Institute ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value general construction trades schools. Set in the city of Yakima, Perry Technical Institute is a small private not-for-profit institution. Typical student debt for general construction trades graduates is $7,892. Soon after graduation, general construction trades degree recipients from Perry Technical Institute generally make around $39,366. That is a strong return on a $7,892 median debt.
Charter College Anchorage came in at #7 for value in general construction trades this year. Located in the city of Anchorage, Charter College Anchorage is a mid-sized private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,341. Students borrow a median of $13,862 to complete the general construction trades program here. Early-career general construction trades graduates make about $52,820. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
