2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for trade school students. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country.
The Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking is one of many tools that Trade College Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 50 schools in the Rocky Mountains Region to see which associate degree programs offered the best educational experiences for trade school students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Trade Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named University of Providence the best school in the Rocky Mountains Region for trade school students working on their associate degree.
If you want to attend University of Providence, expect to pay an average of $26,662 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out University of Providence. Every undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Highlands College of Montana Tech is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree.
In-state students pay an average of $3,589 in tuition and fees if they attend Highlands College of Montana Tech full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,391. Associate Degree recipients from Highlands College of Montana Tech accumulate an average of $16,711 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Highlands College of Montana Tech does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 36% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Utah State University is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree.
Students from Utah who attend USU full time pay an average of $8,960 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $23,435. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,148 in student loans.
USU does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 77% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Montana State University - Northern. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list.
In-state students pay an average of $5,955 in tuition and fees if they attend Montana State University - Northern full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $18,665. On average, associate degree students take out $20,034 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Montana State University - Northern. In fact, around 72% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Utah Valley University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list.
Students from Utah who attend UVU full time pay an average of $6,010 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $17,092. On average, associate degree students take out $14,381 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at UVU. In fact, around 70% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Brigham Young University - Idaho came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,200 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that BYU - I does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 82% took at least some of their classes online.
Western Wyoming Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list.
In-state students pay an average of $3,600 in tuition and fees if they attend WWCC full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,640. On average, associate degree students take out $12,238 in loans while pursuing their degree.
WWCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 55% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #8, Colorado Northwestern Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree.
In-state students pay an average of $4,140 in tuition and fees if they attend CNCC full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,596. Associate Degree recipients from CNCC accumulate an average of $17,852 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since CNCC does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 25% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Northern Wyoming Community College District ranked #9 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list.
In-state students pay an average of $4,590 in tuition and fees if they attend Northern Wyoming Community College District full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,890. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,163 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Northern Wyoming Community College District does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 37% took at least some of their classes online.
Laramie County Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list.
Full-time students from Wyoming pay an average of $4,613 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend LCCC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,913. Associate Degree recipients from LCCC accumulate an average of $16,970 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
LCCC does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 45% took at least some of their classes online.
Montana State University landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs.
In-state students pay an average of $7,528 in tuition and fees if they attend MSU Bozeman full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $28,264. On average, associate degree students take out $17,579 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that MSU Bozeman does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 96% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Weber State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #12 on the list.
Students from Utah who attend WSU full time pay an average of $6,228 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $16,644. Associate Degree recipients from WSU accumulate an average of $20,128 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at WSU. In 2019-2020 about 59% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #13, Salt Lake Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree.
Students from Utah who attend Salt Lake Community College full time pay an average of $4,086 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $12,734. On average, associate degree students take out $13,550 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Salt Lake Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 48% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Idaho State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking.
Students from Idaho who attend ISU full time pay an average of $7,872 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $25,326. Associate Degree recipients from ISU accumulate an average of $28,892 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at ISU. In 2019-2020 about 61% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Community College of Aurora ranked #15 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list.
In-state students pay an average of $3,947 in tuition and fees if they attend CCA full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $15,369. On average, associate degree students take out $17,698 in loans while pursuing their degree.
CCA does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 25% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #17, Montana State University - Billings did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree.
Students from Montana who attend Montana State University - Billings full time pay an average of $6,022 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $19,352. On average, associate degree students take out $20,000 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Montana State University - Billings. During the 2019-2020 year, about 63% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #18, Aims Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree.
Students from Colorado who attend Aims Community College full time pay an average of $2,762 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,418. Associate Degree recipients from Aims Community College accumulate an average of $16,360 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Aims Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 83% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #19, Red Rocks Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree.
Students from Colorado who attend Red Rocks Community College full time pay an average of $4,389 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,811. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,755 in student loans.
Red Rocks Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 75% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Arapahoe Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #20 on the list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Arapahoe Community College is $4,080. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $15,502. On average, associate degree students take out $22,064 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Arapahoe Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 33% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Lewis - Clark State College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list.
On average, associate degree students take out $19,675 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Lewis - Clark State College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 52% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Miles Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #22 on the list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Miles Community College is $6,090. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,840. On average, associate degree students take out $22,682 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Miles Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 73% took at least some of their classes online.
The University of Montana landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at UM is $7,492. Out-of-state students pay an average of $28,476. Associate Degree recipients from UM accumulate an average of $19,709 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at UM, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 47% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Casper College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking.
Students from Wyoming who attend Casper College full time pay an average of $3,480 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,520. Associate Degree recipients from Casper College accumulate an average of $18,284 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Casper College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 52% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
North Idaho College landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs.
Students from Idaho who attend NIC full time pay an average of $4,960 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,736. Associate Degree recipients from NIC accumulate an average of $17,016 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at NIC. During the 2019-2020 year, about 80% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
View Best Associate Degree Trade Associate Degree Schools Nationwide >
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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