2027 Best Construction Trades Schools in the Southwest Region
Construction Trades degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their construction trades programs.
College Factual analyzed 81 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best construction trades schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Construction Trades in the Southwest Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the construction trades degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Construction Trades
Leading the list is Texas State Technical College, our #1 school for construction trades. This large public university is located in the city of Waco. There were roughly 629 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Texas State Technical College in the most recent data year. Construction Trades graduates of Texas State Technical College earn a median of $66,521 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,923 to complete this degree.
Read more about the construction trades program at Texas State Technical College
Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in construction trades, ranking #2. Set in the town of Okmulgee, Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 107 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee in the most recent data year. Construction Trades graduates of Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee earn a median of $52,354 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,356.
Read more about the construction trades program at Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee
The University Of Texas At Brownsville came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best construction trades schools. Set in the city of Brownsville, The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public institution. There were roughly 53 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Brownsville in the most recent data year. Construction Trades graduates of The University Of Texas At Brownsville earn a median of $30,343 early in their careers. The University Of Texas At Brownsville graduates carry a median of $10,058 in student loans.
See the full construction trades program report for The University Of Texas At Brownsville
A rank of #4 makes El Centro College one of the top schools for construction trades. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 75 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at El Centro College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $41,295. Students borrow a median of $14,557 to complete this degree.
See the full construction trades program report for El Centro College
A rank of #5 makes Lone Star College System one of the top schools for construction trades. Located in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public university. There were roughly 256 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Lone Star College System in the most recent data year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $39,954 in their early career. Lone Star College System graduates carry a median of $10,425 in student loans.
Read more about the construction trades program at Lone Star College System
Mesa Community College landed the #6 spot for construction trades this year. Mesa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Mesa. About 424 construction trades degrees were awarded at Mesa Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Mesa Community College generally make around $54,730. Mesa Community College graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans.
Read more about the construction trades program at Mesa Community College
Blinn College came in at #7 for construction trades this year. Located in the town of Brenham, Blinn College is a very large public university. Blinn College awarded about 46 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Blinn College generally make around $43,408. Typical student debt for the program is $16,465.
Read more about the construction trades program at Blinn College
The University Of Texas At San Antonio came in at #8 for construction trades this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Antonio. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 92 construction trades degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At San Antonio in the most recent year. Construction Trades graduates of The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn a median of $71,202 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,700 to complete this degree.
See the full construction trades program report for The University Of Texas At San Antonio
San Jacinto Community College landed the #9 spot for construction trades this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 283 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at San Jacinto Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their construction trades degree from San Jacinto Community College earn around $38,107 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,376 to complete this degree.
Get the full construction trades details for San Jacinto Community College
Central Texas College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best construction trades schools. Set in the suburb of Killeen, Central Texas College is a large public institution. About 45 construction trades degrees were awarded at Central Texas College in the most recent year. Students who receive their construction trades degree from Central Texas College earn around $53,086 in the first couple years of their career. Central Texas College graduates carry a median of $11,290 in student loans.
More information about a degree in construction trades from Central Texas College
Austin Community College District ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best construction trades schools. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. Austin Community College District awarded about 56 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their construction trades degree from Austin Community College District earn around $38,268 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,624.
See the full construction trades program report for Austin Community College District
Rio Salado College earned the #12 position for construction trades this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Rio Salado College is a very large public institution. Rio Salado College awarded about 179 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their construction trades degree from Rio Salado College earn around $48,564 in the first couple years of their career. Rio Salado College graduates carry a median of $13,679 in student loans.
More information about a degree in construction trades from Rio Salado College
Arizona Western College came in at #13 for construction trades this year. This large public university is located in the city of Yuma. About 274 construction trades degrees were awarded at Arizona Western College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Arizona Western College generally make around $44,895.
More information about a degree in construction trades from Arizona Western College
Collin County Community College District placed #14 among the best construction trades schools. Located in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public university. Collin County Community College District awarded about 87 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Construction Trades graduates of Collin County Community College District earn a median of $42,177 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,716 to complete this degree.
Get the full construction trades details for Collin County Community College District
Brazosport College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best construction trades schools. Set in the suburb of Lake Jackson, Brazosport College is a moderately-sized public institution. Brazosport College awarded about 37 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $32,746 in their early career. Brazosport College graduates carry a median of $6,625 in student loans.
More information about a degree in construction trades from Brazosport College
Western Texas College came in at #16 for construction trades this year. Western Texas College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Snyder. Western Texas College awarded about 24 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Western Texas College generally make around $68,077. Western Texas College graduates carry a median of $8,691 in student loans.
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Lee College earned the #17 position for construction trades this year. This large public university is located in the city of Baytown. Lee College awarded about 32 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Lee College generally make around $53,448. Students borrow a median of $10,941 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in construction trades from Lee College
St Philips College came in at #18 for construction trades this year. St Philips College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. About 221 construction trades degrees were awarded at St Philips College in the most recent year. Construction Trades graduates of St Philips College earn a median of $45,185 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,653 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in construction trades from St Philips College
Central New Mexico Community College came in at #19 for construction trades this year. Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. About 165 construction trades degrees were awarded at Central New Mexico Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $34,751. Students borrow a median of $10,112 to complete this degree.
Get the full construction trades details for Central New Mexico Community College
Yavapai College placed #20 among the best construction trades schools. Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Prescott. There were roughly 106 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Yavapai College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $52,087 in their early career. Yavapai College graduates carry a median of $14,087 in student loans.
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Central Arizona College earned the #21 position for construction trades this year. Located in the rural area of Coolidge, Central Arizona College is a moderately-sized public university. Central Arizona College awarded about 177 construction trades degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, construction trades degree recipients from Central Arizona College generally make around $48,826. Students borrow a median of $11,635 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in construction trades from Central Arizona College
Lamar Institute Of Technology landed the #22 spot for construction trades this year. Set in the city of Beaumont, Lamar Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 14 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at Lamar Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Construction Trades graduates of Lamar Institute Of Technology earn a median of $50,068 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,278.
Read more about the construction trades program at Lamar Institute Of Technology
South Plains College placed #23 among the best construction trades schools. Located in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a large public university. There were roughly 55 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at South Plains College in the most recent data year. Construction Trades graduates of South Plains College earn a median of $30,949 early in their careers. South Plains College graduates carry a median of $13,788 in student loans.
Get the full construction trades details for South Plains College
University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus earned the #24 position for construction trades this year. Set in the town of Gallup, University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 21 construction trades students who graduated with this degree at University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $35,132 in their early career. University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus graduates carry a median of $10,986 in student loans.
More information about a degree in construction trades from University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus
Houston Community College landed the #25 spot for construction trades this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Houston. About 102 construction trades degrees were awarded at Houston Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the construction trades program make about $40,365 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,223.
Get the full construction trades details for Houston Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Construction Trades Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s construction trades ranking:
Narrow Construction Trades Schools by State
More Construction Trades Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 81 schools evaluated.
- 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.
