Best colleges for Construction Trades in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Lake Land College, Southwestern Illinois College and Kaskaskia College award the most Construction Trades degrees and certificates in Illinois: 402, 62 and 34 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 7 Illinois colleges offer Construction Trades and award 652 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Construction Trades program, specifically the General specialization, prepares students for careers in the construction industry. This program is designed for individuals interested in building, engineering, and architectural fields,…
Top institution, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Land College Mattoon Public · Certificate | $12,838 | 402 | 58% | — | $5,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Construction Trades degrees in Illinois
Top 5 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Land College Mattoon Public | 402 | $12,838 |
| 2 | Southwestern Illinois College Belleville Public | 62 | Not reported |
| 3 | Kaskaskia College Centralia Public | 34 | Not reported |
| 4 | Stautzenberger College - Rockford Career College Rockford Private for-profit | 13 | Not reported |
| 5 | Shawnee Community College Ullin Public | 2 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 2 Illinois colleges offering Construction Trades
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triton College | River Grove | Public | 134 |
| South Suburban College | South Holland | Public | 5 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers (SOC 47-1011).
Top skills
What First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Construction Trades programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Construction Trades degrees?+
Lake Land College (402 graduates a year), Southwestern Illinois College (62 graduates a year) and Kaskaskia College (34 graduates a year) award the most Construction Trades degrees and certificates in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 7 Illinois colleges offer Construction Trades.
Which Construction Trades program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Lake Land College tops the list at $12,838. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers in Illinois is $103,450 (median $105,750), across about 19,340 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Construction Trades program?+
The Construction Trades program, specifically the General specialization, prepares students for careers in the construction industry. This program is designed for individuals interested in building, engineering, and architectural fields,…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, active listening, critical thinking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers?+
The national job outlook is about +5.3% growth with around 74,400 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A High school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card