Certificate (1-2 years)-1% vs national median584 grads tracked
Construction Trades at Southwestern Illinois College
Ranked 32nd of 89 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Construction Trades by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$63,761
middle 50%: $44,129 – $85,151
Median · 5 years out
$68,650
middle 50%: $46,621 – $93,989
Median · 10 years out
$77,440
middle 50%: $56,812 – $98,174
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Construction Trades (certificate (1-2 years)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Construction Trades alumni earn a median of $64k in their first year. Salaries reach $77k by year ten.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
5.4 yrs
≈ $5,721 total interest
Same major at other universities
Minnesota State Community and Technical College
$72,839 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 12
$72,356 · 5 yrs out
Capital Area Technical College
$71,212 · 5 yrs out
Trinidad State College
$71,060 · 5 yrs out
Brightpoint Community College
$70,298 · 5 yrs out
Emily Griffith Technical College
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
Red Rocks Community College
$67,746 · 5 yrs out
Erie Community College
$66,546 · 5 yrs out
Northshore Technical Community College
$66,474 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota West Community and Technical College
$63,170 · 5 yrs out
L. E. Fletcher Technical Community College
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 5
$60,738 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Southwestern Illinois College
Fire Protection (Associate)
$99,192 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Certificate)
$80,595 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Certificate)
$72,907 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Certificate)
$72,907 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$72,441 · 5 yrs out
Carpenters (Certificate)
$70,557 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Associate)
$70,365 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Associate)
$69,946 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$68,526 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Certificate)
$67,570 · 5 yrs out
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Certificate)
$66,712 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$66,338 · 5 yrs out
Related fields of study
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection
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