by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 24 U.S. colleges awarded 305 degrees and certificates in Other Construction. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 54% of graduates. College Factual ranks 10 schools in its 2027 Best Other Construction Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $35,515 one year after completing, rising to $56,001 after four years.
Students who are interested in jobs in construction usually enjoy science and math minded and like to work with their hands. This field involves the nitty-gritty of building, repair and maintenance of buildings, homes and establishments.
In addition to more common majors such as Construction, Building Management & Inspection or Electrical Power Transmission Installation, there are a number of other majors or concentrations you could pursue.
One, for example is that of Plumbing and Water Supply. This is necessary in order to have running water, protect against fires, and have proper heating and cooling systems. A major in Plumbing and Water Supply will teach you technical knowledge and skills you need to layout, install, test, and operate water and sewer systems.
Some other things students can study are Well Drilling, Insulation, Metal Building Assembly and anything else associated with building and maintaining homes, residences and commercial buildings. In addition to acquiring technical knowledge of their subject, students will also take classes in reading blueprints, physics, math, and chemistry. This major is commonly offered as a certificate, however can be taken as an associate's degree.
A degree in Other Construction involves the study of Construction Trades, Other.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, other construction is a widely-pursued major, with 305 degrees awarded annually. 24 colleges award other construction degrees, an average of 13 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 90.
By level, the 305 awards include 86 certificates, 54 associate degrees and 165 master’s degrees.
Women earned 8% of other construction degrees and certificates in the latest year (23 of 305). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (174) and Hispanic or Latino (86), and international students earned 1.
College Factual ranks 10 schools in its 2027 Best Other Construction Schools ranking, including 2 for associate degrees. It also ranks other construction schools within 1 state. In all, 24 colleges offer other construction programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Other Construction Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common other construction credential is the master’s degree: 165 of the 305 awarded in the latest year.
This major is for the student interested in all the details of building and repair. Students should enjoy building things and putting things together. It helps to have logical reasoning skills and competency in math and science. Attention to detail will aid you when reading blueprints and analyzing designs.
Most programs require student to complete an apprenticeship in order to gain work experience and to learn the fundamentals first hand. This typically involves working alongside a professional within the field, in addition to practice hours in the classroom.
How long an other construction degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 86 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 54 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 165 |
Students who pursue a career in plumbing and water wupply will often obtain jobs as blasters, drillers, plumbers and pipefitters. Blasters use various explosive materials to aid the construction process. They work in the first stages of building to prepare the land to be constructed on. Pipefitters and plumbers install and repair pipes that carry air, water, and streams of liquid and gas throughout the buildings. Drillers operate, repair and maintain drilling equipment to develop gas, oil, and water wells. Other jobs in this field are construction manager, insulator, building construction technician, roofer, carpenter and more.
Other Construction graduates earn a median $35,515 one year after completing their program, $56,001 after four years and $55,147 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $35,515 |
| 4 years | $56,001 |
| 5 years | $55,147 |
Source: College Scorecard.
Other Construction includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Construction Trades, Other (305). It has 6 similar majors in the Construction Trades field, which together award 61,840 degrees a year; the largest are Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (40,602), Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection (7,804) and Carpenters (6,053). Browse all Construction Trades majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Construction Trades, Other | 305 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | 40,602 |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | 7,804 |
| Carpenters | 6,053 |
| Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services | 4,194 |
| CONSTRUCTION TRADES | 2,765 |
| Mason/Masonry | 422 |
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