Carpenters programs
CIP 4602 · Construction Trades · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
19 institutions report graduate earnings for Carpenters programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $44,860 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.22× and 79% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, 3 of the 19 programs with both earnings and a benchmark fall below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026); the rest clear it.
| # | Institution | Earn 4yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ivy Tech Community CollegeIN · Associate | $69,442 n=23 | 94% 5yr | – | – | Above +85% | Clears 2/2 |
| 2 | Western Iowa Tech Community CollegeIA · UG cert | $62,497 n=19 | – | – | – | Above +62% | – |
| 3 | Austin Community College DistrictTX · Associate | $61,533 n=28 | 63% 1yr | $13,750 | 0.22× | Above +72% | – |
| 4 | North Bennet Street SchoolMA · UG cert | $59,101 n=27 | 75% 5yr | $9,500 | 0.16× | Above +36% | Clears 2/2 |
| 5 | Des Moines Area Community CollegeIA · UG cert | $50,349 n=27 | 78% 1yr | – | – | Above +31% | – |
| 6 | Ranken Technical CollegeMO · Associate | $48,574 n=19 | 95% 5yr | $12,000 | 0.25× | Above +36% | Clears 2/2 |
| 7 | Thaddeus Stevens College of TechnologyPA · Associate | $46,433 n=36 | 79% 5yr | $7,231 | 0.16× | Above +23% | Clears 2/2 |
| 8 | Madison Area Technical CollegeWI · UG cert | $45,371 n=16 | – | – | – | Above +16% | – |
| 9 | SUNY College of Technology at DelhiNY · Associate | $45,162 n=27 | 79% 5yr | $12,000 | 0.27× | Above +19% | Below 1/2 |
| 10 | Western Technical CollegeWI · UG cert | $44,860 n=24 | – | $5,500 | 0.12× | Above +15% | – |
| 11 | Alexandria Technical & Community CollegeMN · UG cert | $44,053 n=17 | 83% 5yr | – | – | Above +10% | Clears 2/2 |
| 12 | Fort Hays Tech North CentralKS · UG cert | $43,522 n=22 | 80% 5yr | $5,500 | 0.13× | Above +20% | Below 1/2 |
| 13 | St Cloud Technical and Community CollegeMN · UG cert | $42,052 n=21 | – | – | – | Above +5% | – |
| 14 | Kansas City Kansas Community CollegeKS · UG cert | $40,446 n=21 | – | – | – | Above +11% | – |
| 15 | City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King CollegeIL · UG cert | $37,726 n=25 | – | – | – | Above +0% | – |
| 16 | Tulsa Technology CenterOK · UG cert | $36,714 n=17 | – | – | – | Above +4% | – |
| 17 | Orleans Technical CollegePA · UG cert | $32,136 n=44 | 55% 5yr | $7,521 | 0.23× | Below -15% | – |
| 18 | Atlanta Technical CollegeGA · UG cert | $30,791 n=18 | – | $10,507 | 0.34× | Below -13% | Below 2/2 |
| 19 | Ocean County Vocational-Technical SchoolNJ · UG cert | $26,841 n=16 | – | – | – | Below -33% | – |
% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.
Which colleges have the highest-paying Carpenters programs?
By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Carpenters programs in this dataset are Ivy Tech Community College ($69,442), Western Iowa Tech Community College ($62,497), Austin Community College District ($61,533). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.
Are Carpenters programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, 3 of the 19 Carpenters programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
Track Carpenters programs across your peer set
We build tailored dashboards, the fields, institutions and risk signals your enrollment or program-review team cares about, kept current. Tell us what you'd want to watch.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.