by our College Data Analytics Team
[Construction Trades](/majors/construction-trades/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for construction trades students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in construction trades, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Ogden Weber Technical College, our #1 best value for construction trades in the Rocky Mountains Region. Located in the city of Ogden, Ogden Weber Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $8,833. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $57,750. Set against $8,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in construction trades will find it at Brigham Young University Idaho, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $13,287. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Brigham Young University Idaho generally make around $43,853. Set against $13,287 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Brigham Young University Idaho admits about 96% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Bridgerland Technical College one of the best values for construction trades. Bridgerland Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Logan. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $12,000. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $28,884. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Flathead Valley Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value construction trades schools. Flathead Valley Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Kalispell. Students from in state pay about $4,912 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,659. Students borrow a median of $16,094 to complete the construction trades program here. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $45,868. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Red Rocks Community College one of the best values for construction trades. Red Rocks Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lakewood. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,859, compared with $17,459 for out-of-state students. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $14,471 in student loans. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $76,340. Set against $14,471 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Salt Lake Community College earned the #6 position for value in construction trades this year. Located in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,426, while out-of-state students pay about $14,244. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $10,855. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $42,031. That is a strong return on a $10,855 median debt.
Trinidad State Junior College came in at #7 for value in construction trades this year. Located in the town of Trinidad, Trinidad State Junior College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,608, while out-of-state students pay about $7,318. Students borrow a median of $3,588 to complete the construction trades program here. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Trinidad State Junior College generally make around $73,424. That is a strong return on a $3,588 median debt.
Pickens Technical College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value construction trades schools. Located in the city of Aurora, Pickens Technical College is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,140, with out-of-state students paying around $9,250. Students borrow a median of $10,250 to complete the construction trades program here. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Pickens Technical College generally make around $35,622. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Emily Griffith Technical College landed the #9 spot for construction trades value this year. Set in the city of Denver, Emily Griffith Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students borrow a median of $8,256 to complete the construction trades program here. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $42,412. That is a strong return on a $8,256 median debt.
Aims Community College came in at #10 for value in construction trades this year. Set in the city of Greeley, Aims Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,258, compared with $11,786 for out-of-state students. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $11,199 in student loans. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $45,909. Set against $11,199 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Otero Junior College landed the #11 spot for construction trades value this year. Set in the town of La Junta, Otero Junior College is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $7,270. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $21,759. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Otero Junior College generally make around $66,338. Set against $21,759 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Wyoming College landed the #12 spot for construction trades value this year. Central Wyoming College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Riverton. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800, while out-of-state students pay about $11,100. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $12,820. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $65,164. That is a strong return on a $12,820 median debt.
Montana State University Northern landed the #13 spot for construction trades value this year. Montana State University Northern is a small public school located in the town of Havre. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,982, with out-of-state students paying around $21,875. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $23,855. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $50,896. That is a strong return on a $23,855 median debt.
Front Range Community College placed #14 among the best values for construction trades. Set in the suburb of Westminster, Front Range Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,663, with out-of-state students paying around $17,263. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $17,384 in student loans. Construction Trades graduates of Front Range Community College earn a median of $40,414 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,384 median debt.
Highlands College Of Montana Tech landed the #15 spot for construction trades value this year. Highlands College Of Montana Tech is a small public school located in the town of Butte. In-state tuition and fees average $4,127, while out-of-state students pay about $10,948. Students borrow a median of $2,750 to complete the construction trades program here. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Highlands College Of Montana Tech generally make around $58,838. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mesa State College earned the #16 position for value in construction trades this year. Set in the city of Grand Junction, Mesa State College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,927, while out-of-state students pay about $25,124. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Mesa State College generally make around $49,330. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Davis Technical College earned the #17 position for value in construction trades this year. Davis Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kaysville. Students borrow a median of $6,262 to complete the construction trades program here. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $34,093. That is a strong return on a $6,262 median debt.
The University Of Montana came in at #18 for value in construction trades this year. Set in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,552 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,671. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $24,342. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from The University Of Montana generally make around $42,654. That is a strong return on a $24,342 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Montana State University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value construction trades schools. Located in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,460, with out-of-state students paying around $33,287. Students borrow a median of $23,635 to complete the construction trades program here. Construction Trades graduates of Montana State University earn a median of $47,703 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,635 median debt. Montana State University admits about 82% of applicants.
Intellitec College Grand Junction placed #20 among the best values for construction trades. Set in the city of Grand Junction, Intellitec College Grand Junction is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $11,767 to complete the construction trades program here. Construction Trades graduates of Intellitec College Grand Junction earn a median of $26,391 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Intellitec College Colorado Springs ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value construction trades schools. Located in the city of Colorado Springs, Intellitec College Colorado Springs is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $15,716 to complete the construction trades program here. Construction Trades graduates of Intellitec College Colorado Springs earn a median of $29,746 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lincoln College Of Technology Denver landed the #22 spot for construction trades value this year. Set in the city of Denver, Lincoln College Of Technology Denver is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $12,386. Construction Trades graduates of Lincoln College Of Technology Denver earn a median of $39,207 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.