Certificate (under 1 year)-24% vs national median268 grads tracked
Construction Trades at South Texas College
Ranked 43rd of 75 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Construction Trades by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$31,758
middle 50%: $24,004 – $44,849
Median · 5 years out
$52,963
middle 50%: $31,905 – $73,958
Median · 10 years out
$70,012
middle 50%: $44,785 – $102,295
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Construction Trades (certificate (under 1 year)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
South Texas College certificate holders in Construction Trades earn $32k in their first year. Median earnings hit $70k after ten years.
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
8.2 yrs
≈ $9,945 total interest
Same major at other universities
Northwest Technical College - Bemidji
$56,877 · 5 yrs out
Pikes Peak State College
$56,473 · 5 yrs out
South Suburban College
$56,312 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Western Community College
$54,333 · 5 yrs out
Houston Community College
$53,270 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota State Community and Technical College
$53,243 · 5 yrs out
Southwestern Illinois College
$52,872 · 5 yrs out
Midlands Technical College
$52,872 · 5 yrs out
Northeast Texas Community College
$52,636 · 5 yrs out
Cisco College
$52,071 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Highlands Community College
$50,881 · 5 yrs out
Kishwaukee College
$50,881 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at South Texas College
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$89,484 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$82,389 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$74,301 · 5 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Certificate)
$67,042 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate)
$66,918 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Certificate)
$66,346 · 5 yrs out
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Certificate)
$65,986 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Associate)
$65,698 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Associate)
$65,698 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate)
$64,854 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Certificate)
$63,681 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Associate)
$61,749 · 5 yrs out
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Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection
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