221 schools · federal data
Carpentry schools compared
221 schools in our data award certificates or associate degrees in carpentry: 212 certificate programs and 60 associate programs. Graduates of the typical certificate program earned $36,494 a year after finishing and $42,787 four years after.
What counts: the Department of Education groups programs by field, and this field covers carpentry.
Certificate or associate degree?
| Certificate | Associate degree | |
|---|---|---|
| Programs | 212 | 60 |
| Graduates in 2023-24 | 4,826 | 478 |
| Typical earnings 1 year after | $36,494 | $54,750 |
| Typical earnings 4 years after | $42,787 | $47,504 |
| Typical median debt | $9,500 | $11,500 |
Associate graduates in carpentry started out earning $18,256 more a year than certificate graduates, but an associate degree usually takes longer.
Highest-earning carpentry certificate programs
Programs with at least 10 graduates in 2023-24, ranked by median earnings one year after graduation.
| School | Type | Credential | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester Community and Technical CollegeRochester, MN | Community college | Certificate | 10 | $44,669 | n/a | n/a |
| Jefferson Community and Technical CollegeLouisville, KY | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 53 | $39,195 | n/a | n/a |
| Milwaukee Area Technical CollegeMilwaukee, WI | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 22 | $37,357 | n/a | n/a |
| Centura College-NorfolkNorfolk, VA | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 30 | $35,631 | n/a | $14,750 |
| Mohawk Valley Community CollegeUtica, NY | Community college | Certificate | 13 | $31,804 | n/a | n/a |
| Fort Hays Tech North CentralBeloit, KS | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 20 | $28,711 | $43,522 | n/a |
| Bluegrass Community and Technical CollegeLexington, KY | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 63 | $27,975 | n/a | n/a |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King CollegeChicago, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 63 | $26,938 | $37,726 | n/a |
Highest-earning carpentry associate programs
| School | Type | Credential | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ivy Tech Community CollegeIndianapolis, IN | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 168 | $69,108 | $69,442 | $5,500 |
| Thaddeus Stevens College of TechnologyLancaster, PA | Community college | Associate degree | 38 | $40,393 | $46,433 | $11,000 |
Largest carpentry programs
By number of graduates in 2023-24.
| School | Type | Credential | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American River CollegeSacramento, CA | Community college | Certificate | 487 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Ivy Tech Community CollegeIndianapolis, IN | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 272 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| J F Ingram State Technical CollegeDeatsville, AL | Public technical school | Certificate | 264 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Ivy Tech Community CollegeIndianapolis, IN | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 168 | $69,108 | $69,442 | $5,500 |
| Community College of Allegheny CountyPittsburgh, PA | Community college | Certificate | 137 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Columbus Technical CollegeColumbus, GA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 119 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Hazard Community and Technical CollegeHazard, KY | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 112 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Madison Area Technical CollegeMadison, WI | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 107 | n/a | $45,371 | n/a |
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical CollegeGreen Bay, WI | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 102 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Atlanta Technical CollegeAtlanta, GA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 86 | n/a | $30,791 | n/a |
| Emily Griffith Technical CollegeDenver, CO | Public technical school | Certificate | 84 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Hennepin Technical CollegeBrooklyn Park, MN | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 75 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Southern Regional Technical CollegeThomasville, GA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 73 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Central Arizona CollegeCoolidge, AZ | Public technical school | Certificate | 69 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Uintah Basin Technical CollegeRoosevelt, UT | Public technical school | Certificate | 67 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Carpentry schools by state
Fewer than 3 schools: Alaska (2), Arkansas (1), Idaho (1), Indiana (2), Massachusetts (1), Nebraska (2), Nevada (1), New Jersey (2), New York (2), North Dakota (2), Ohio (2), Oregon (1), South Carolina (1), Virginia (1), Wyoming (1). See each state's trade school page.
Frequently asked questions
How many carpentry schools are there?
221 schools on the College Scorecard awarded at least one carpentry certificate or associate degree in the last two years we have data for: 212 certificate programs and 60 associate programs.
How much do carpentry program graduates earn?
Graduates of the typical carpentry certificate program earned a median of $36,494 one year after finishing and $42,787 four years after, in 2024 dollars. For associate degrees the one-year figure was $54,750. Pay varies a lot by school and state, so check the program tables.
Which carpentry program has the highest earnings?
Among certificate programs with at least 10 graduates, Rochester Community and Technical College in Rochester, MN had the highest median earnings one year after graduation: $44,669.
How much debt do carpentry students take on?
At the typical certificate program, graduates who borrowed federal loans left with a median of $9,500. Many trade students borrow nothing, so check each school's net price and aid first.
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Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (institution and field of study files), data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. What each figure covers.