Carpenters at St Cloud Technical and Community College

Saint Cloud, MN · Public · Certificate

a compact campus enrolling 2,808 students in Saint Cloud, MN.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $43,440 at St Cloud Technical and Community College come in 17% above the national median of $37,206 for Carpenters programs.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 91.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Carpenters programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Carpenters's career paths, with 29% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 0% gap from the optimistic case.

At #2 of 15 nationally, this is a top-5% Carpenters program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Carpenters offers 37 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

72 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
69
Low End
72
Score
73
High End
Earnings $43,440/yr (17% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (71% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (148,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$454K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
91.7x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
2 of 2
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition
$4,957

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Carpenters graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers $78,690 +5.3% 57%
Carpenters $59,310 +4.5% 86%
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
$78,690
+5.3% growth 57% AI-proof
Carpenters
$59,310
+4.5% growth 86% AI-proof

About Carpenters Careers

You’ll start your career with a tool belt strapped on, working on residential or commercial job sites. Your days will involve reading blueprints, measuring and cutting lumber with power saws, and framing walls or building staircases with precision. As your skills sharpen, you’ll advance from an apprentice to a journeyman carpenter, trusted with more complex projects like custom cabinetry or detailed finish work. This is hands-on work that can’t be automated or done from a desk; you are physically building and shaping the world.

Read the full Carpenters career guide →

Compare & Explore

Carpenters Overview

Carpenters at Other Schools

Other Majors at St Cloud Technical and Community College

Frequently Asked Questions

How does St Cloud Technical and Community College's Carpenters program score?
A score of 72/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. St Cloud Technical and Community College's Carpenters graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
What makes St Cloud Technical and Community College's Carpenters program stand out?
Ranked #2 of 15 programs nationally, St Cloud Technical and Community College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Are there apprenticeship options for Carpenters?
Yes — 37 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Carpenters career paths, including Boat Builder (Existing Title: Boat Builder, Wood). Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
How many job openings are there for Carpenters graduates?
With approximately 148,500 annual openings across mapped careers, Carpenters offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →