2026 Best Value Construction Trades Schools in Hawaii
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in construction trades, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Construction Trades Schools
Kauai Community College earned the #1 spot for value among construction trades schools in Hawaii. Kauai Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Lihue. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,252, while out-of-state students pay about $8,388. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Construction Trades graduates of Kauai Community College earn a median of $23,210 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Honolulu Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in construction trades, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Honolulu, Honolulu Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,174, compared with $8,310 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $12,500. Construction Trades graduates of Honolulu Community College earn a median of $86,741 early in their careers. Set against $12,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Hawaii Community College one of the best values for construction trades. Set in the town of Hilo, Hawaii Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,204 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,340. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $13,170 in student loans. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $37,760. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 4 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.
[Construction Trades](/majors/construction-trades/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
