by our College Data Analytics Team
[Construction Trades](/majors/construction-trades/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong construction trades education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for construction trades students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the construction trades degrees they offer, see the list below.
Macomb Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value construction trades schools in Michigan. Located in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $9,862. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $38,758. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Alpena Community College earned it the #2 place for construction trades. Set in the town of Alpena, Alpena Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,840 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,220 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $6,500. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $45,132. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Washtenaw Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in construction trades, landing the #3 spot this year. Washtenaw Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ann Arbor. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,736, while out-of-state students pay about $6,504. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $17,616 in student loans. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Washtenaw Community College generally make around $45,332. Set against $17,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Delta College one of the best values for construction trades. Delta College is a large public school located in the rural area of University Center. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,820, while out-of-state students pay about $7,880. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $14,075 in student loans. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $37,342. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Lansing Community College one of the best values for construction trades. Located in the city of Lansing, Lansing Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,100, with out-of-state students paying around $11,300. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $16,700 in student loans. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Lansing Community College generally make around $46,103. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jackson Community College placed #6 among the best values for construction trades. Located in the rural area of Jackson, Jackson Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,350, with out-of-state students paying around $10,200. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $16,960. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $41,322. Set against $16,960 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Grand Rapids Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value construction trades schools. Grand Rapids Community College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Rapids. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,179, compared with $12,219 for out-of-state students. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $6,481 in student loans. Construction Trades graduates of Grand Rapids Community College earn a median of $34,029 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,481 median debt.
Northern Michigan University earned the #8 position for value in construction trades this year. Located in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,322, while out-of-state students pay about $19,944. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $53,242. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University earned the #9 position for value in construction trades this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $25,213 in student loans. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $39,107. Set against $25,213 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
This list is compiled 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.