Best colleges for Construction Trades
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top colleges for Construction Trades by graduate earnings are Charter College ($52,820), Perry Technical Institute ($39,366) and Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center ($28,440), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Charter College (Anchorage, AK): $52,820, 23 graduates a year
- Perry Technical Institute (Yakima, WA): $39,366, 33 graduates a year
- Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center (Minneapolis, MN): $28,440, 152 graduates a year
- Apex Technical School (Long Island City, NY): $23,562, 117 graduates a year
- Lake Land College (Mattoon, IL): $12,838, 402 graduates a year
Compare 86 U.S. colleges offering Construction Trades by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 33 states.
Construction Trades programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,297 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 46.00 and the First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Construction Trades programs
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, providing a solid foundation for those looking to enter the workforce or pursue further education in construction-related disciplines.
Students in the Construction Trades program will gain essential skills in areas such as building and construction, mechanical systems, and project management. Coursework emphasizes critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication, ensuring graduates are well-equipped to meet industry demands.
Top 8 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. 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 | Charter College Anchorage, AK Private for-profit · Associate degree | $52,820 | 23 | 56% | $26,789 | $13,862 |
| 2 | Perry Technical Institute Yakima, WA Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $39,366 | 33 | 79% | $24,069 | $7,892 |
| 3 | Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center Minneapolis, MN Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $28,440 | 152 | 64% | $17,453 | $9,322 |
| 4 | Apex Technical School Long Island City, NY Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $23,562 | 117 | 78% | $17,771 | $9,500 |
| 5 | Lake Land College Mattoon, IL Public · Certificate | $12,838 | 402 | 58% | — | $5,500 |
| 6 | Honolulu Community College Honolulu, HI Public · Associate degree | $86,741 | 155 | 25% | — | $12,500 |
| 7 | Great Oaks Career Campuses Cincinnati, OH Public · Certificate Small program | $39,297 | 13 | 90% | — | $9,500 |
| 8 | Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCES Liverpool, NY Public · Certificate Small program | $24,129 | 12 | 73% | — | $8,233 |
Specializations within Construction Trades
1 of the 1 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 46.00 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
Offered across 33 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
| State | Institutions | Median earnings | Top institution by earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaiilimited | 1 | $86,741 | Honolulu Community College |
| Alaskalimited | 2 | $52,820 | Charter College |
| Washingtonlimited | 1 | $39,366 | Perry Technical Institute |
| Ohio | 5 | $39,297 | Great Oaks Career Campuses |
| Minnesotalimited | 2 | $28,440 | Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center |
| New Yorklimited | 2 | $24,129 | Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCES |
| Illinois | 7 | $12,838 | Lake Land College |
| Arizonalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Arkansas | 6 | — | — |
| Californialimited | 1 | — | — |
| Colorado | 8 | — | — |
| Georgialimited | 2 | — | — |
| Indianalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Iowalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Kentuckylimited | 1 | — | — |
| Michiganlimited | 2 | — | — |
| Missouri | 6 | — | — |
| Montanalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Nevadalimited | 2 | — | — |
| North Dakotalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Oklahomalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Oregon | 6 | — | — |
| Pennsylvanialimited | 1 | — | — |
| South Dakotalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Texaslimited | 1 | — | — |
| Utahlimited | 2 | — | — |
| Virginia | 7 | — | — |
| Wisconsin | 3 | — | — |
| Wyominglimited | 1 | — | — |
| Palaulimited | 1 | — | — |
| Puerto Ricolimited | 1 | — | — |
| Idaholimited | 1 | — | — |
| New Jerseylimited | 1 | — | — |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 47-1011, First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers, and its national outlook.
The job outlook for careers in construction trades is promising, with an expected growth rate of 5.3% and approximately 74,400 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is $78,690, and typically, a high school diploma or equivalent is required for entry into the field.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Construction Trades
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 46.00.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 46.00 (Construction Trades, General) maps to 1 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupation, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 47-1011 | First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workersprimary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Construction Trades 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
- Inspect work progress, equipment, or construction sites to verify safety or to ensure that specifications are met.
- Read specifications, such as blueprints, to determine construction requirements or to plan procedures.
- Supervise, coordinate, or schedule the activities of construction or extractive workers.
- Assign work to employees, based on material or worker requirements of specific jobs.
- Coordinate work activities with other construction project activities.
- Estimate material or worker requirements to complete jobs.
Common questions
What types of jobs can I get with a Construction Trades program?+
Graduates can pursue various roles in construction, including project management, site supervision, and skilled trades positions.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, critical thinking, and reading comprehension, among others.
Is there a demand for construction trades professionals?+
Yes, the demand is strong, with a projected growth rate of 5.3% in the field.
What education do I need to enter this field?+
Typically, a high school diploma or equivalent is required to start a career in construction trades.
How much do Construction Trades graduates earn?+
Construction Trades graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,297, College Scorecard (2019); the First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers occupation pays about $86,450 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Construction Trades?+
Construction Trades maps to CIP 46.00 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.
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.
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