Best institutions to study Building/Construction Finishing
Compare 312 U.S. colleges offering Building/Construction Finishing by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 49 states.
Building/Construction Finishing programs report a median of $31,601 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 46.04 and the Construction and Building Inspectors occupation (BLS SOC).
About Building/Construction Finishing programs
The Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection program equips students with the skills and knowledge necessary for various roles in the construction trades. This program is ideal for individuals interested in overseeing the finishing processes of buildings and ensuring compliance with safety and legal standards throughout construction projects.
Students will gain core skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and mathematics, alongside knowledge in building and construction, public safety, and design. Coursework may cover topics such as building/property maintenance, drywall installation, and construction inspection.
Top 36 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rowan University Glassboro, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree | $85,630 | 64 | 67% | — | $30,070 |
| 2 | The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,202 | 92 | 53% | — | $21,700 |
| 3 | North Hennepin Community College Brooklyn Park, MN Public · Certificate degree | $66,902 | 20 | 22% | — | — |
| 4 | Portland Community College Portland, OR Public · Associate degree | $63,103 | 33 | 18% | — | — |
| 5 | Rochester Community and Technical College Rochester, MN Public · Certificate degree | $61,196 | 28 | 29% | — | — |
| 6 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN Public · Associate degree | $51,303 | 229 | 40% | — | $7,000 |
| 7 | Flint Hills Technical College Emporia, KS Public · Associate degree | $47,694 | 53 | 68% | — | — |
| 8 | Cabrillo College Aptos, CA Public · Certificate degree | $47,566 | 32 | 38% | — | — |
| 9 | Erie Community College Buffalo, NY Public · Associate degree | $44,535 | 27 | 28% | — | $8,710 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PA Public · Associate degree | $44,225 | 76 | 53% | — | $17,500 |
| 11 | Orleans Technical College Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $39,735 | 27 | 90% | $19,184 | $7,521 |
| 12 | Lake Area Technical College Watertown, SD Public · Associate degree | $38,635 | 15 | 73% | — | $12,000 |
| 13 | Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire, WI Public · Certificate degree | $37,575 | 24 | 50% | — | — |
| 14 | Northeast Community College Norfolk, NE Public · Associate degree | $37,514 | 21 | 56% | — | — |
| 15 | Mitchell Technical College Mitchell, SD Public · Associate degree | $37,485 | 19 | 76% | — | $10,866 |
| 16 | Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Lancaster, PA Public · Associate degree | $36,873 | 28 | 71% | — | — |
| 17 | Grand Rapids Community College Grand Rapids, MI Public · Certificate degree | $33,914 | 28 | 21% | — | $6,460 |
| 18 | New Castle School of Trades New Castle, PA Private for-profit · Associate degree | $31,601 | 32 | 76% | $7,553 | — |
| 19 | CET - San Diego San Diego, CA Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $28,485 | 40 | 87% | $21,055 | $6,425 |
| 20 | CET - El Centro El Centro, CA Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $28,485 | 23 | 93% | $19,396 | $6,425 |
| 21 | CET - Colton Colton, CA Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $28,485 | 8 | 72% | $17,280 | $6,425 |
| 22 | CET - Watsonville Watsonville, CA Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $28,485 | 34 | 83% | $1,680 | $6,425 |
| 23 | CET - Coachella Coachella, CA Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $28,485 | 13 | 84% | $11,259 | $6,425 |
| 24 | CET - Oxnard Oxnard, CA Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $28,485 | 27 | 42% | $10,977 | $6,425 |
| 25 | CET - Santa Maria Santa Maria, CA Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $28,485 | 35 | 77% | $2,174 | $6,425 |
| 26 | CET - Soledad Soledad, CA Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $28,485 | 19 | 81% | $13,944 | $6,425 |
| 27 | Motoring Technical Training Institute Seekonk, MA Private for-profit · Certificate degree | $26,989 | 38 | 89% | $18,778 | $9,239 |
| 28 | Remington College - Lafayette Campus Lafayette, LA Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $26,736 | 17 | 42% | $29,720 | $9,500 |
| 29 | Remington College - Dallas Campus Dallas, TX Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $26,736 | 27 | — | $29,146 | $9,500 |
| 30 | Remington College - Cleveland Campus Cleveland, OH Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $26,736 | 40 | 55% | $23,910 | $9,500 |
| 31 | Remington College - Fort Worth Campus North Richland Hills, TX Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $26,736 | 29 | 45% | $24,625 | $9,500 |
| 32 | Remington College - Memphis Campus Memphis, TN Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $26,736 | 19 | 38% | $26,048 | $9,500 |
| 33 | Remington College - Nashville Campus Nashville, TN Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $26,736 | 17 | 47% | $29,040 | $9,500 |
| 34 | South Florida Institute of Technology Miami, FL Private for-profit · Certificate degree | $26,701 | 59 | 83% | $29,731 | — |
| 35 | Employment Solutions - College for Technical Education Lexington, KY Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $25,158 | 20 | 63% | $19,115 | $11,510 |
| 36 | Michigan Career and Technical Institute Plainwell, MI Public · Certificate degree | $23,493 | 7 | 38% | — | — |
Offered across 49 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 47-4011, Construction and Building Inspectors, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers in various specializations, including construction inspection, drywall installation, and concrete finishing. The job outlook shows little or no change, with approximately 14,800 annual openings and a median wage of $72,120, typically requiring a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Building/Construction Finishing
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 46.04.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 46.04 (Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection) maps to 22 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-3013 | Facilities Managers |
| 17-3022 | Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians |
| 37-1011 | First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers |
| 47-1011 | First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers |
| 47-2041 | Carpet Installers |
| 47-2042 | Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles |
| 47-2043 | Floor Sanders and Finishers |
| 47-2044 | Tile and Stone Setters |
| 47-2051 | Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers |
| 47-2053 | Terrazzo Workers and Finishers |
| 47-2081 | Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers |
| 47-2121 | Glaziers |
| 47-2131 | Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall |
| 47-2132 | Insulation Workers, Mechanical |
| 47-2141 | Painters, Construction and Maintenance |
| 47-2142 | Paperhangers |
| 47-2181 | Roofers |
| 47-2221 | Structural Iron and Steel Workers |
| 47-2231 | Solar Photovoltaic Installers |
| 47-4011 | Construction and Building Inspectorsprimary |
| 49-9071 | Maintenance and Repair Workers, General |
| 49-9095 | Manufactured Building and Mobile Home Installers |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Building/Construction Finishing programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Approve building plans that meet required specifications.
- Review and interpret plans, blueprints, site layouts, specifications, or construction methods to ensure compliance to legal requirements and safety regulations.
- Issue permits for construction, relocation, demolition, or occupancy.
- Inspect bridges, dams, highways, buildings, wiring, plumbing, electrical circuits, sewers, heating systems, or foundations during and after construction for structural quality, general safety, or conformance to specifications and codes.
- Monitor installation of plumbing, wiring, equipment, or appliances to ensure that installation is performed properly and is in compliance with applicable regulations.
- Inspect and monitor construction sites to ensure adherence to safety standards, building codes, or specifications.
Concentrations within Building/Construction Finishing
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Building/Property MaintenanceCIP 46.0401
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to keep a building functioning, and to service a variety of structures including commercial and industrial buildings and mob
- Concrete Finishing/Concrete FinisherCIP 46.0402
A program that prepares individuals to prepare, construct, and finish buildings, components, and related structures using compound masonry mixtures of stone, gravel, sand, cement, and water
- Building/Home/Construction Inspection/InspectorCIP 46.0403
A program that prepares individuals to apply industrial, labor, and governmental standards and laws to the oversight of construction projects and the maintenance of completed buildings and other struc
- Drywall Installation/DrywallerCIP 46.0404
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to install, tape, and plaster drywall installations in interior and exterior construction jobs
- GlazierCIP 46.0406
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to install and repair fixtures, sheets, windows, and skylights made of glass, plexiglass, and other transparent materials
- Painting/Painter and Wall CovererCIP 46.0408
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to finish exterior and interior structural surfaces by applying protective or decorative coating materials, such as paint, l
- RooferCIP 46.0410
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to prepare, install, and maintain exterior roofing materials and roofs
- Metal Building Assembly/AssemblerCIP 46.0411
A program that prepares individuals to construct industrial, storage, and commercial metal structures using prefabricated framing and siding components
- Building/Construction Site Management/ManagerCIP 46.0412
A program that prepares individuals to supervise, manage, and inspect construction sites, buildings, and associated facilities
- Carpet, Floor, and Tile WorkerCIP 46.0413
A program that prepares individuals to plan, prepare, install, and repair carpet; linoleum; vinyl; ceramic, marble, quarry, mosaic, and terazzo tiles; and wood materials on floors, walls, and stairs
- InsulatorCIP 46.0414
A program that prepares individuals to apply insulation materials to pipes, boilers, ducts, refrigeration systems, and related equipment to reduce the passage of heat, cold, sound, or fire
- Building Construction Technology/TechnicianCIP 46.0415
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to residential and commercial building construction and remodeling
Common questions
What is the focus of the Building/Construction Finishing program?+
The program focuses on the finishing processes in construction, including management and inspection.
What skills will I learn in this program?+
You will learn skills such as critical thinking, mathematics, and knowledge of building regulations.
What types of careers can I pursue after graduation?+
Graduates can work in various roles like construction inspector, drywall installer, or concrete finisher.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with around 14,800 annual openings and a median wage of $72,120.
How much do Building/Construction Finishing graduates earn?+
Building/Construction Finishing graduates report median earnings of $31,601 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Construction and Building Inspectors occupation pays about $77,730 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Building/Construction Finishing?+
Building/Construction Finishing maps to CIP 46.04 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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