2027 Best Value Construction Trades Schools in New Jersey
[Construction Trades](/majors/construction-trades/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools to find the best return on investment for construction trades students.
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2027 Best Value Construction Trades Schools in New Jersey
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in construction trades, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Construction Trades Schools
Leading the list is Hudson County Community College, our #1 best value for construction trades in New Jersey. Set in the city of Jersey City, Hudson County Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,384, with out-of-state students paying around $9,248. Students borrow a median of $10,671 to complete the construction trades program here. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Hudson County Community College generally make around $35,909. That is a strong return on a $10,671 median debt.
Sussex County Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in construction trades, landing the #2 spot this year. Sussex County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Newton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,544, compared with $9,024 for out-of-state students. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $10,750 in student loans. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $27,179. Set against $10,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Union County Vocational Technical School earned it the #3 place for construction trades. Located in the suburb of Scotch Plains, Union County Vocational Technical School is a small public university. Median earnings reach $37,590 ten years out.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Adult And Continuing Education Bcts earned it the #4 place for construction trades. Located in the suburb of Hackensack, Adult And Continuing Education Bcts is a small public university. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $6,179 in student loans. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Adult And Continuing Education Bcts generally make around $29,643. Set against $6,179 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in construction trades will find it at Ocean County Vocational Technical School, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Toms River, Ocean County Vocational Technical School is a small public institution. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Ocean County Vocational Technical School generally make around $27,482.
Rowan University landed the #6 spot for construction trades value this year. Set in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,574 in tuition and fees, compared with $26,932 for out-of-state students. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $30,070 in student loans. Construction Trades graduates of Rowan University earn a median of $85,630 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rowan University admits about 78% of applicants.
American Institute Toms River earned the #7 position for value in construction trades this year. Set in the suburb of Toms River, American Institute Toms River is a small private for-profit institution. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $16,708 in student loans. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from American Institute Toms River generally make around $28,410. That is a strong return on a $16,708 median debt.
American Institute Clifton ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value construction trades schools. Set in the suburb of CLIFTON, American Institute Clifton is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $16,708. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $28,410. Set against $16,708 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
American Institute Somerset ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value construction trades schools. American Institute Somerset is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Somerset. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $16,708 in student loans. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $28,410. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hohokus School Of Trade And Technical Sciences ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value construction trades schools. Located in the suburb of Paterson, Hohokus School Of Trade And Technical Sciences is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $10,471 to complete the construction trades program here. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Hohokus School Of Trade And Technical Sciences generally make around $27,120. Set against $10,471 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
American Institute Cherry Hill placed #11 among the best values for construction trades. Located in the suburb of Cherry Hill, American Institute Cherry Hill is a small private for-profit university. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans. Construction Trades graduates of American Institute Cherry Hill earn a median of $29,925 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pennco Tech Blackwood earned the #12 position for value in construction trades this year. Located in the suburb of Blackwood, Pennco Tech Blackwood is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $9,500. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Pennco Tech Blackwood generally make around $33,390. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
National Career Institute placed #13 among the best values for construction trades. Located in the suburb of East Orange, National Career Institute is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $6,756. Construction Trades graduates of National Career Institute earn a median of $22,597 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lincoln Technical Institute Union landed the #14 spot for construction trades value this year. Lincoln Technical Institute Union is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the suburb of Union. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $13,875. Construction Trades graduates of Lincoln Technical Institute Union earn a median of $32,841 early in their careers. Set against $13,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lincoln Technical Institute Mahwah earned the #15 position for value in construction trades this year. Located in the suburb of Mahwah, Lincoln Technical Institute Mahwah is a small private for-profit university. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $13,875 in student loans. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Lincoln Technical Institute Mahwah generally make around $32,841. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
More Construction Trades Rankings
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Notes and References
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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
