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CollegeROI

Trades & Technology Majors — ROI Rankings (2026)

16 trades & technology majors across 218 school-major combinations analyzed for debt, earnings, and job market outlook.

16
Majors
66/100
Avg ROI Score
$26K
Avg Median Debt
$61K
Avg Year 1 Earnings

Trades & Technology Majors by Average ROI

#MajorAvg ROI Score
1Manufacturing Engineering79/100
2Construction Engineering79/100
3Surveying Engineering79/100
4Electromechanical Engineering79/100
5Energy Systems Technologies75/100
6Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies74/100
7Construction Engineering Technology74/100
8Quality Control and Safety Technologies74/100
9Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies73/100
10Construction Management69/100
11Transportation and Materials Moving61/100
12Maritime Studies60/100
13Air Transportation59/100
14Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies53/100
15Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection51/100
16Precision Production48/100

Top 50 Trades & Technology Programs by ROI

#SchoolMajorROI Score
1Central State UniversityManufacturing Engineering87/100
2National American University-Rapid CityConstruction Management80/100
3Kennesaw State UniversityConstruction Engineering79/100
4Oklahoma State University Institute of TechnologyElectromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies79/100
5Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-BarreSurveying Engineering79/100
6Wentworth Institute of TechnologyElectromechanical Engineering79/100
7Alpena Community CollegeEnergy Systems Technologies78/100
8Citadel Military College of South CarolinaConstruction Engineering78/100
9Jacksonville State UniversityQuality Control and Safety Technologies78/100
10Savannah College of Art and DesignManufacturing Engineering78/100
11University of Wisconsin-StoutManufacturing Engineering78/100
12Bradley UniversityManufacturing Engineering77/100
13California State University-ChicoConstruction Engineering Technology77/100
14CUNY New York City College of TechnologyConstruction Engineering Technology77/100
15Waldorf UniversityQuality Control and Safety Technologies77/100
16Colorado Mesa UniversityConstruction Engineering Technology76/100
17Dunwoody College of TechnologyManufacturing Engineering76/100
18Ferris State UniversityManufacturing Engineering76/100
19Georgia Southern UniversityConstruction Engineering Technology76/100
20Pennsylvania State University-Penn State AltoonaElectromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies76/100
21Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BerksElectromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies76/100
22Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- EberlyElectromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies76/100
23Pennsylvania State University-Penn State New KensingtonElectromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies76/100
24Pennsylvania State University-Penn State YorkElectromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies76/100
25Purdue University Fort WayneConstruction Engineering Technology76/100
26SUNY College of Technology at DelhiElectromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies76/100
27Thomas Jefferson UniversityConstruction Engineering Technology76/100
28University of North FloridaConstruction Engineering Technology76/100
29University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterQuality Control and Safety Technologies76/100
30Western Carolina UniversityConstruction Engineering Technology76/100
31Colorado State University-Fort CollinsConstruction Engineering Technology75/100
32Columbia Southern UniversityQuality Control and Safety Technologies75/100
33Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachQuality Control and Safety Technologies75/100
34Farmingdale State CollegeConstruction Engineering Technology75/100
35Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main CampusQuality Control and Safety Technologies75/100
36Kansas State UniversityConstruction Engineering Technology75/100
37Keene State CollegeQuality Control and Safety Technologies75/100
38Louisiana Tech UniversityConstruction Engineering Technology75/100
39Missouri Western State UniversityConstruction Engineering Technology75/100
40Nicholls State UniversityQuality Control and Safety Technologies75/100
41Pennsylvania College of TechnologyElectromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies75/100
42Pennsylvania College of TechnologyDrafting/Design Engineering Technologies75/100
43Savannah College of Art and DesignDrafting/Design Engineering Technologies75/100
44SUNY College of Technology at AlfredConstruction Engineering Technology75/100
45Texas A & M University-College StationConstruction Engineering Technology75/100
46Trine UniversityDrafting/Design Engineering Technologies75/100
47University of Akron Main CampusConstruction Engineering Technology75/100
48University of Central MissouriQuality Control and Safety Technologies75/100
49University of MaineConstruction Engineering Technology75/100
50Bakersfield CollegeElectromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies74/100

Frequently Asked Questions

CollegeROI tracks 16 trades & technology majors across 218 school-major combinations with detailed debt and earnings data.

The average ROI Score for trades & technology programs is 66/100. Average median debt is $26K with average first-year earnings of $61K.

Among trades & technology majors, Manufacturing Engineering has the highest average ROI Score at 79/100. The best individual program is Central State University in Manufacturing Engineering with a score of 87/100.