Best colleges for Construction Trades
A program that generally prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills in the building, inspecting, and maintaining of structures and related properties.
86 U.S. institutions graduated 2,765 Construction Trades students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 46.0000, a specialization of Construction Trades (CIP 46.00), and leads most directly to the First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers occupation (BLS SOC 47-1011).
About Construction Trades programs
A program that generally prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills in the building, inspecting, and maintaining of structures and related properties. May include instruction in masonry, carpentry, electrical and power transmission installation, building/construction finishing, management, inspection and other construction-related applications.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Construction Trades program prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills in the building, inspecting, and maintaining of structures and related properties. This program is ideal for those interested in a hands-on career in the construction industry, covering various aspects such as masonry, carpentry, electrical installation, and management.
Students will gain essential skills in areas like building and construction, administration, and mechanical systems. Coursework emphasizes critical thinking, reading comprehension, and effective communication, ensuring graduates are well-prepared for the demands of the construction field.
Credentials awarded
What Construction Trades graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year1,427 graduates / yr · 42 institutions52%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years570 graduates / yr · 24 institutions21%
- Associate's degree557 graduates / yr · 41 institutions20%
- Award of less than 12 weeks198 graduates / yr · 6 institutions7.2%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years7 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.3%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate6 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.2%
Graduates over time
Construction Trades completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,223 |
| 2013 | 1,401 |
| 2014 | 1,472 |
| 2015 | 1,924 |
| 2016 | 1,985 |
| 2017 | 2,110 |
| 2018 | 1,740 |
| 2019 | 2,292 |
| 2020 | 2,596 |
| 2021 | 1,435 |
| 2022 | 1,822 |
| 2023 | 2,597 |
| 2024 | 2,761 |
| 2025 | 2,765 |
Top 50 institutions for Construction Trades, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field starting salary* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Land College Mattoon, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 402 | 58% | — | $12,838 |
| 2 | Truckee Meadows Community College Reno, NVPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 289 | 32% | — | — |
| 3 | Front Range Community College Westminster, COPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 161 | 35% | — | — |
| 4 | Arizona Western College Yuma, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 158 | 20% | — | — |
| 5 | Honolulu Community College Honolulu, HIPublicAssociate's | 155 | 25% | — | $86,741 |
| 6 | Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center Minneapolis, MNPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 152 | 64% | $17,453 | $28,440 |
| 7 | Triton College River Grove, ILPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 134 | 29% | — | — |
| 8 | Apex Technical School Long Island City, NYPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 117 | 78% | $17,771 | $23,562 |
| 9 | Western Nevada College Carson City, NVPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 87 | 41% | — | — |
| 10 | Portland Community College Portland, ORPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 76 | 18% | — | — |
| 11 | Mt Hood Community College Gresham, ORPublicAssociate's | 69 | 24% | — | — |
| 12 | Southwestern Illinois College Belleville, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate'sAward of less than 12 weeks | 62 | 36% | — | — |
| 13 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, INPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 56 | 40% | — | — |
| 14 | Arkansas State University Three Rivers Malvern, ARPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 54 | 26% | — | — |
| 15 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 48 | 33% | — | — |
| 16 | Wytheville Community College Wytheville, VAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years | 41 | 47% | — | — |
| 17 | State Technical College of Missouri Linn, MOPublicAssociate's | 36 | 84% | — | — |
| 18 | San Joaquin Valley College - Visalia Visalia, CAPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 34 | 36% | $30,518 | — |
| 19 | Kaskaskia College Centralia, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 34 | 49% | — | — |
| 20 | Perry Technical Institute Yakima, WAPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 33 | 79% | $24,069 | $39,366 |
| 21 | North Arkansas College Harrison, ARPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 32 | 42% | — | — |
| 22 | Mid-State Technical College Wisconsin Rapids, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 31 | 52% | — | — |
| 23 | Southwest Texas College Uvalde, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 29 | 31% | — | — |
| 24 | Ozarks Technical Community College Springfield, MOPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 27 | 33% | — | — |
| 25 | Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology Okmulgee, OKPublicAssociate's | 26 | 42% | — | — |
| 26 | Virginia Western Community College Roanoke, VAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 24 | 40% | — | — |
| 27 | Charter College Anchorage, AKPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 23 | 56% | $26,789 | $52,820 |
| 28 | Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas Helena, ARPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 22 | 55% | — | — |
| 29 | Arkansas Northeastern College Blytheville, ARPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 21 | 49% | — | — |
| 30 | Columbus Technical College Columbus, GAPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 21 | 27% | — | — |
| 31 | Palau Community College Koror, PWPublicAssociate's | 17 | 27% | — | — |
| 32 | Vincennes University Vincennes, INPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 15 | 39% | — | — |
| 33 | Brightpoint Community College Chester, VAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 15 | 38% | — | — |
| 34 | Great Oaks Career Campuses Cincinnati, OHPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 13 | 90% | — | $39,297 |
| 35 | Stautzenberger College - Rockford Career College Rockford, ILPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 13 | 66% | $20,078 | — |
| 36 | Snow College Ephraim, UTPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 12 | 46% | — | — |
| 37 | Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCES Liverpool, NYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 12 | 73% | — | $24,129 |
| 38 | Colorado Mesa University Grand Junction, COPublicAssociate's | 11 | 41% | — | — |
| 39 | Otero College La Junta, COPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 10 | 38% | — | — |
| 40 | Pikes Peak State College Colorado Springs, COPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 10 | 21% | — | — |
| 41 | Marshalltown Community College Marshalltown, IAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 9 | 42% | — | — |
| 42 | University of Arkansas Community College - Morrilton Morrilton, ARPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 8 | 42% | — | — |
| 43 | Escuela Tecnica de Electricidad Ponce, PRPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 95% | $8,859 | — |
| 44 | Saint Louis Community College Bridgeton, MOPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 7 | 21% | — | — |
| 45 | Little Big Horn College Crow Agency, MTPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 7 | 11% | — | — |
| 46 | Turtle Mountain College Belcourt, NDPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 7 | 43% | $3,883 | — |
| 47 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VAPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 7 | 65% | $28,911 | — |
| 48 | Lakeshore Technical College Cleveland, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 7 | 50% | — | — |
| 49 | Lamar Community College Lamar, COPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 55% | — | — |
| 50 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KYPublicPost-degree cert. | 6 | 50% | — | — |
* Field starting salary (1 yr): median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Construction Trades field (CIP 46.00) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 33 states & territories
Where Construction Trades graduates come from. Each state links to all Construction Trades programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 47-1011, First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Construction Trades program can pursue careers such as First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers. The job outlook is promising, with a growth rate of 5.3% and approximately 74,400 annual openings. The median wage for this occupation is $78,690, typically requiring a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 46.0000
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workersprimary SOC 47-1011 | $79,920 | +5.3% Faster than average | ~74,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Construction Trades programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
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.
Tools and technology used
Common questions
What types of credentials can I earn?+
You can earn various credentials, including awards of less than 12 weeks, up to an Associate's degree.
How many colleges offer this program?+
There are 86 colleges in the U.S. offering the Construction Trades program.
What skills will I learn?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, critical thinking, and more.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with a growth rate of 5.3% and 74,400 annual job openings.
What is the CIP code for Construction Trades?+
Construction Trades is CIP 46.0000 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Construction Trades (CIP 46.00). NCES defines it as: A program that generally prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills in the building, inspecting, and maintaining of structures and related properties. May include instruction in masonry, carpentry, electrical and power transmission installation, building/construction finishing, management, inspection and other construction-related applications.
How many institutions offer Construction Trades programs?+
86 U.S. institutions reported Construction Trades graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 33 states & territories, awarding 2,765 credentials in the year. That is 100.0% of all Construction Trades graduates.
How much do Construction Trades graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers occupation, which Construction Trades most directly leads to, pays a median of $79,920 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Construction Trades field report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,297, College Scorecard.
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license. This specialization accounts for nearly all Construction Trades graduates, so its figures match the Construction Trades program page.
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