2026 Best Value Construction Trades Schools in Kentucky
[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 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools to find the best return on investment for construction trades students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Construction Trades Schools in Kentucky
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in construction trades, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Construction Trades Schools
For return on investment in construction trades, no school beat Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College this year. Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bowling Green. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $6,999. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $52,553. That is a strong return on a $6,999 median debt.
Somerset Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value construction trades schools. Somerset Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Somerset. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $9,500. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Somerset Community College generally make around $46,259. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hazard Community And Technical College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value construction trades schools. Located in the town of Hazard, Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $12,212 in student loans. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Hazard Community And Technical College generally make around $32,626. That is a strong return on a $12,212 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College one of the best values for construction trades. Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Cumberland. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,687 to complete the construction trades program here. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $35,946. Set against $9,687 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in construction trades will find it at Owensboro Community And Technical College, which ranked #5. Located in the rural area of Owensboro, Owensboro Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $7,829 to complete the construction trades program here. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $52,335. That is a strong return on a $7,829 median debt.
Hopkinsville Community College came in at #6 for value in construction trades this year. Set in the town of Hopkinsville, Hopkinsville Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $13,269. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $43,678. Set against $13,269 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Big Sandy Community And Technical College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value construction trades schools. Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Prestonsburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $9,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Big Sandy Community And Technical College generally make around $31,647. Set against $9,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ashland Community And Technical College placed #8 among the best values for construction trades. Ashland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Ashland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $7,250 in student loans. Construction Trades graduates of Ashland Community And Technical College earn a median of $27,034 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
West Kentucky Community And Technical College landed the #9 spot for construction trades value this year. Set in the city of Paducah, West Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $5,500. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $29,936. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value construction trades schools. Located in the city of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $7,186 in student loans. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $59,302. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Maysville Community And Technical College came in at #11 for value in construction trades this year. Maysville Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Maysville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $8,014. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Maysville Community And Technical College generally make around $37,769. Set against $8,014 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Madisonville Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value construction trades schools. Madisonville Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Madisonville. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $10,985 in student loans. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Madisonville Community College generally make around $41,084. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gateway Community And Technical College placed #13 among the best values for construction trades. Located in the suburb of Florence, Gateway Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $46,993. That is a strong return on a $6,500 median debt.
Bluegrass Community And Technical College came in at #14 for value in construction trades this year. Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Lexington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,808, compared with $6,512 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,412 to complete the construction trades program here. Construction Trades graduates of Bluegrass Community And Technical College earn a median of $66,544 early in their careers. Set against $10,412 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Jefferson Community And Technical College placed #15 among the best values for construction trades. Located in the city of Louisville, Jefferson Community And Technical College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,808 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,512 for out-of-state students. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $11,170 in student loans. Construction Trades graduates of Jefferson Community And Technical College earn a median of $44,346 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,170 median debt.
Employment Solutions College For Technical Education came in at #16 for value in construction trades this year. Located in the city of Lexington, Employment Solutions College For Technical Education is a small private not-for-profit university. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $11,510 in student loans. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $25,158. That is a strong return on a $11,510 median debt.
More Construction Trades Rankings
View All Construction Trades Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
