2026 Best Value Construction Trades Schools in Virginia
[Construction Trades](/majors/construction-trades/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 22 schools to find the best return on investment for construction trades students.
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2026 Best Value Construction Trades Schools in Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in construction trades, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Construction Trades Schools
Wytheville Community College earned the #1 spot for value among construction trades schools in Virginia. Wytheville Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Wytheville. In-state tuition and fees average $5,007, compared with $11,445 for out-of-state students. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $9,542 in student loans. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Wytheville Community College generally make around $40,973. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in construction trades will find it at Virginia Highlands Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Abingdon, Virginia Highlands Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,022, while out-of-state students pay about $11,460. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $7,490 in student loans. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $36,340. Set against $7,490 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central Virginia Community College earned it the #3 place for construction trades. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Central Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,157, compared with $11,595 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,384 to complete the construction trades program here. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Central Virginia Community College generally make around $32,309. Set against $10,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
John Tyler Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value construction trades schools. Located in the suburb of Chester, John Tyler Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,082 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,520. Students borrow a median of $11,262 to complete the construction trades program here. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from John Tyler Community College generally make around $36,623. Set against $11,262 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in construction trades will find it at Virginia Western Community College, which ranked #5. Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Roanoke. Students from in state pay about $5,400 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,838. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $13,715. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $34,439. Set against $13,715 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
New River Community College placed #6 among the best values for construction trades. Located in the town of Dublin, New River Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,979, while out-of-state students pay about $11,417. Students borrow a median of $13,132 to complete the construction trades program here. Construction Trades graduates of New River Community College earn a median of $46,892 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,132 median debt.
Paul D Camp Community College placed #7 among the best values for construction trades. Located in the town of Franklin, Paul D Camp Community College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $5,012 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,450. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $11,074 in student loans. Construction Trades graduates of Paul D Camp Community College earn a median of $40,070 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Dabney S Lancaster Community College came in at #8 for value in construction trades this year. Set in the rural area of Clifton Forge, Dabney S Lancaster Community College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,022, with out-of-state students paying around $11,460. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $34,293.
Danville Community College placed #9 among the best values for construction trades. Set in the town of Danville, Danville Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,992, compared with $11,430 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $9,494. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $62,468. That is a strong return on a $9,494 median debt.
Tidewater Community College placed #10 among the best values for construction trades. Set in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,858, while out-of-state students pay about $12,296. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $7,574. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $36,232. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northern Virginia Community College earned the #11 position for value in construction trades this year. Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Annandale. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,891, while out-of-state students pay about $12,410. Typical student debt for construction trades graduates is $14,413. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $40,126. That is a strong return on a $14,413 median debt.
Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value construction trades schools. Located in the rural area of Weyers Cave, Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,646, compared with $12,084 for out-of-state students. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $11,768 in student loans. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave generally make around $40,020. Set against $11,768 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tidewater Tech Trades ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value construction trades schools. Located in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Tech Trades is a small private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,337. Construction Trades graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Construction Trades graduates of Tidewater Tech Trades earn a median of $35,172 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Centura College Norfolk came in at #14 for value in construction trades this year. Located in the city of Norfolk, Centura College Norfolk is a small private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,637. Students borrow a median of $14,750 to complete the construction trades program here. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Centura College Norfolk generally make around $20,928. Set against $14,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Liberty University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value construction trades schools. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,173. Students borrow a median of $27,414 to complete the construction trades program here. Early-career construction trades graduates make about $45,877. That is a strong return on a $27,414 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
More Construction Trades Rankings
View All Construction Trades Rankings >
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 · 22 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.
