Best Carpentry Schools in the US 2023

The best carpentry schools in the US provide interesting, practical courses that provide students the chance to put their newly learned abilities to use in practical situations.

A aptitude for a variety of technical, writing, and social skills is necessary to become a carpenter. Carpenters that are successful should be able to read blueprints, work out difficulties, handle power tools, and perform accurate math.

Writing is essential for carpenters since they frequently create official proposals, send thorough bills, and make incredibly extensive reports on the status of the buildings they inspect.

Especially if you work for yourself, interpersonal skills are crucial for marketing your company, managing busy schedules and staff, and resolving inevitable conflicts.

Anyone can want to be a carpenter, and entry standards to schools in the US are often less competitive than those in the liberal arts.

There is always a need for people with building and design skills, a career in carpentry might take you to interesting places.

You can specialize in fields like drywall, commercial development, deck construction, or even teaching with a carpentry diploma or certification.

We’ve put together a list of the top carpentry colleges in the US that have been rated as having the greatest degree programs on well-known higher education websites.

You will probably discover the ideal fit for your professional ambitions scattered around the country in urban, suburban, and rural places.

Here are the top carpentry schools in the US without further ado.

Best Carpentry Schools in the US

1. Williamson College of the Trades (Media, PA)

Williamson enrolls students in an Associate in Specialized Technology Degree, one of the most comprehensive degrees on our list.

Students that enroll in this program want to own their own contracting businesses, work as construction superintendents, and hold leadership roles as journeymen carpenters.

Lecture rooms, on-campus projects, workshops, and presentations all feature dynamic learning environments.

What kind of advanced carpentry abilities can aspiring Williamson students expect to learn?

They will apply their expertise of project management to serve as shop foremen on campus projects in CARP 252, Advanced Carpentry Skills II, where they will be in charge of supervision, estimations, material orders, and safety.

Employers in the region and at the federal level, like Bancroft Construction Co., Lennar Homes, and Skanska AB, hire graduates with an AST degree from Williamson.

Williamson alumni have more leeway than most of their peers to travel to places where their talents are in high demand since they possess so many transferrable skills. Projects will get more difficult the more advanced the class level.

2. Ivy Tech Community College (Indianapolis, IN)

The largest community college in the US with a single accreditation, Ivy Tech provides a top-notch education in manufacturing and construction.

Early in the course sequence, the construction technology program requires students to construct scale house mock-ups in the construction lab, and many carpentry students will take part in building projects as part of service-learning.

Each study will be qualified to pass the national certification exam by the degree’s conclusion.

Ivy Tech’s construction students can anticipate working with neighborhood companies on a variety of innovative projects involving HVAC and electrical contracting, making for a comprehensive degree program in expertise outside of woodworking.

Ivy Tech draws many aspiring carpenters because of its selection of programs. Students can get certificates in construction technology in as little as two semesters in addition to the AAS degree program.

For instance, 32 hours of credit are needed for a technical qualification in building construction management.

In BCOM 100, Technology for Construction, all students enrolled in this program gain proficiency in computer-aided drafting, scheduling software, and proposal creation using presentation software.

3. Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology (Lancaster, PA)

In order to prepare eager students for lucrative projects and employment in residential and commercial construction, Stevens’ carpentry technology program places them in laboratories and workshops with the most modern equipment and technology.

Lone Pennsylvania citizens are admitted to the college; the only exception is for veterans.

Future carpenters will study how to erect fixtures and structures made of diverse materials in a fast-paced course like Carpentry Technology Essential Skills.

Installing cabinetry, drywall, and even underground passageways gives them practice.

They can anticipate using bandsaw wheels, air compressors, and bevels among other tools.

As one can imagine, using powerful instruments efficiently requires dexterity, caution, and responsibility.

Graduates at Thaddeus Stevens do incredibly well for themselves after college.

The 2020 class had a 96% job placement rate, and 87% of them had full-time jobs in their fields of study.

Regarding pay, they worked for companies like Ashley Furniture, Dream Builders, and Snyder Heating & Remodeling, earning between $32,500 and $42,500 annually.

4. Fox Valley Technical College (Grand Chute, WI)

If you have an interest in residential construction, Fox Valley Tech is a fantastic alternative.

Students can acquire a 39-credit technical diploma that teaches them how to construct or remodel a home from beginning to end.

This necessitates enough experience finishing both the interior and outside of a structure, memorization of construction codes, and teamwork.

The Fox Valley Construction Management Association (FVCMA), which provides chances for experiential learning through field trips, seminars, national conventions, and guest speaker series, supports student projects.

Recent residential construction graduates from Fox Valley Technical College have advanced to positions within their major 96% of the time, while others find rewarding work in construction management technology, electricity, and pipelines trades preparation.

In a few roles, salaries approach $60,000, which is greater than average for a carpenter just starting out after college.

5. St. Cloud Technical & Community College (St. Cloud, WI)

A St. Cloud Technical graduate can anticipate beginning their career as an advanced apprentice.

St. Cloud University’s building construction degree program aims to equip students with the skills they need to succeed in a range of jobs and industries.

They will be equipped to be successful in cabinetry, millwork, highway and bridgework, as well as residential and commercial construction.

It is unusual for two graduates to hold the same position given the 100% job placement rate for 2021.

St. Cloud encourages students to pursue their passions in construction and building, whether it be as ceiling tile installers, building inspectors, or lumber yard manager trainees.

Some may even choose to work as customer care agents for significant construction companies.

Undergraduates have the option of enrolling in the architectural or electrical construction technology programs in addition to the main building construction program.

While the latter concentrates on instructing participants in AC generator theory, variable frequency drives, and lighting, the former introduces students to civil drafting, engineering, and blueprint reading.

6. Bismarck State College (Bismarck, ND)

The majority of Bismarck State’s attention is directed toward training undergraduates for careers in residential building.

Participants in the college’s nine-month option build a complete single-family home in Bismarck. This lengthy process contains several important jobs, including reviewing plans and building cabinetry.

Although a 60-credit AAS diploma is optional, those who successfully complete this program will get a program certificate.

The difficulties that real-world residential building situations present, such as hauling large loads, using ladders for extended periods of time, and being exposed to vibration, heat, dust, and noise, will all be presented to students.

In order to earn an AAS degree, students must enrol in a variety of humanities and social science classes, guaranteeing a well-rounded education.

They will be equipped with courses like Introduction to Professional Writing and Fundamentals of Public Speaking to land temporary and permanent positions on interesting projects, as well as the self-assurance needed to launch their own businesses and promote their skills to a wide clientele.

7. Atlantic Technical College (Coconut Creek, FL)

Planning, finances, labor relations, and safety are just a few of the carpentry-related topics that Atlantic Technical claims to cover in-depth with its students.

Graduates join teams focused on concrete formwork, bridge construction, and shipbuilding in addition to working on homes, companies, and other buildings.

What sort of talents may a student at Atlantic Technical College anticipate learning? Technical abilities like painting, roofing, and using hand tools are certainly there, but they’re not the only ones.

Undergraduates will put their scale drawing skills to the test by assessing a site layout, determining job prices, and more. At Atlantic Tech, each day is unique.

Both individual and group projects are used to grade students.

Students will establish a building’s foundation, cut and install wood floor framing components, ensure that all work conforms with hurricane building rules, build a frame for a staircase, and apply suitable thermal boundaries and water management techniques in a course like Rough Framing Carpentry.

8. Des Moines Area Community College (Ankeny, IA)

Few universities promise students a job within a year of enrollment, but Des Moines is reasonably priced and keeps its word.

Students can prepare for satisfying professions in residential or commercial construction with the DMACC building trades diploma.

The amount of one-on-one attention that students receive is one of the program’s biggest strengths; they work with the same teacher throughout the year-long course sequence.

They will spend this time working on various home building projects in the Des Moines region, developing their framing, trim work, and roofing skills, to mention a few important ones.

Are you looking for a choice that is even more comprehensive? The five-semester AAS in construction management is another degree program offered by DMACC.

This course is designed to get you ready for higher supervisory positions. The practice of task evaluation, financial statement preparation, task delegation, and leadership development will be done by the students.

9. WashburnI of Technology (Topeka, KS)

The building technology and carpentry programs at Washburn Tech give students the skills and knowledge needed to successfully execute projects in both the commercial and residential sectors.

Undergraduates take courses that last only half a day in order to graduate in two semesters with a technical certificate.

Washburn graduates typically make $28.23/hour as journeyman commercial carpenters and $20.43/hour as journeyman residential carpenters, which is $8–$12/hour more than the average Kansas entry-level salary.

Novice carpenters will learn how to use and store tools securely in a course like Introductory Craft Skills, and technical math I will introduce them to the many calculations and measurements they’ll be needed to complete in their future careers. Undergraduates acquire a lot of practical experience in masonry, window installation, floor, wall, and ceiling framing.

10. Green River College (Auburn, WA)

With day and evening classes available, Green River may have one of the most easily accessible carpentry technology programs on this list.

In a 5,500 square foot workshop, all students will gain proficiency in every major area of carpentry, regardless of whether they prefer to work on home or commercial projects.

They will construct full-size mock-ups inside those four walls from the ground up.

The fact that Green River is the sole school with a contract with the Union Carpenters apprenticeship training program is one of the program’s distinguishing characteristics.

After three months of being accepted to the training program, students who maintain a GPA of 3.5 or better are given preference for entry into the program and are eligible to earn advancement pay depending on exam results.

Students have the option of pursuing an AAS or up to five other training certificates. Given that it will take another 30 years to build the brand-new Puget Sound transit system, post-graduate employment is all but guaranteed.

Conclusion

Everyone aspires to make a lasting impression on the world. A job in carpentry offers the opportunity to influence other people’s lives.

When you work in construction, the things you create will help the community in the long run. These residences will house expanding families. There will be education in those institutions. Because of those gyms, churches, and businesses, lives will be altered.

The tasks you might do in a matter of months could last for the next 100 years or longer. People’s fondest memories or most significant moments could involve you in a little but meaningful way. What a legacy to leave behind!

The compensation, like any employment, is a major consideration.

Because craft skills are distinctive and in high demand, the building sector can pay very well. The average base pay for carpenters is $56,877, or about $26.92 per hour.

Additional incentives for travel and overtime can raise take-home pay above these high base rates, sometimes even reaching six figures.

A profession in carpentry also has the added advantage of not requiring any college debt. Another common need for employment is a four-year university degree, which can be expensive. The total amount of student debt in the US is reportedly $1.7 trillion. However, education and training for carpentry vocations are typically carried out using significantly less expensive ways. Some of these options for training, like apprenticeships, actually pay the apprentice wages for the work they accomplish while receiving on-the-job training, enabling learners to make money even while they learn.

Careers in carpentry and other trades provide a significant head start compared to their classmates attending a university when taking into account the decent income, the absence of student debt, and the chance to begin earning money sooner.

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