2026 Best Value Construction Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Construction](/majors/construction-trades/general-construction/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong construction education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for construction students.
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2026 Best Value Construction Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in construction, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Construction Schools
Our analysis ranked Ozarks Technical Community College the best value for a degree in construction in the The Plains States Region. Located in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,256, with out-of-state students paying around $7,040. Students borrow a median of $15,866 to complete the construction program here. Soon after graduation, construction degree recipients from Ozarks Technical Community College generally make around $36,644. Set against $15,866 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Iowa Western Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in construction, landing the #2 spot this year. Iowa Western Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Council Bluffs. Students from in state pay about $6,930 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,080. Construction graduates carry a median of $15,153 in student loans. Early-career construction graduates make about $43,444. Set against $15,153 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in construction will find it at Linn State Technical College, which ranked #3. Set in the rural area of Linn, Linn State Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,160, compared with $14,610 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,042 to complete the construction program here. Early-career construction graduates make about $45,538. Set against $11,042 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center is a great value for students pursuing a degree in construction, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center is a small private not-for-profit institution. Typical student debt for construction graduates is $9,322. Early-career construction graduates make about $28,440. 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 · 22 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.
