2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Colorado
With all the trade school programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Trade College Search has created its Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Colorado ranking. This report analyzed 21 schools in Colorado to see which ones offered the best associate degree programs for trade school students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Trade Associate Degree Schools in Colorado
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Colorado Northwestern Community College the best school in Colorado for trade school students working on their associate degree. Colorado Northwestern Community College is a small public school located in Rangely, Colorado that handed out 137 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Colorado pay an average of $4,236 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend CNCC. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,740. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,923 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at CNCC. In 2020-2021 about 25% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Community College of Aurora. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Colorado list. CCA is a public institution located in Aurora, Colorado. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 620 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,030 in tuition and fees if they attend CCA full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $15,832. Associate Degree recipients from CCA accumulate an average of $17,334 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at CCA. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 22% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Out of the 21 schools in Colorado that were part of this year’s ranking, Aims Community College landed the # 4 spot on the list. Greeley, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 686 students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Colorado pay an average of $2,954 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Aims Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,850. On average, associate degree students take out $10,156 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Aims Community College. In 2020-2021 about 44% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Red Rocks Community College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Colorado list. Lakewood, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 593 students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Red Rocks Community College is $4,471. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $16,135. Associate Degree recipients from Red Rocks Community College accumulate an average of $14,553 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Red Rocks Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 51% took at least some of their classes online.
Arapahoe Community College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Arapahoe Community College is located in Littleton, Colorado and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 754 associate degrees to qualified students.
In-state students pay an average of $4,080 in tuition and fees if they attend Arapahoe Community College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $15,502. On average, associate degree students take out $15,611 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Arapahoe Community College is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
Morgan Community College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Morgan Community College is a small public school located in Fort Morgan, Colorado that handed out 134 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Colorado pay an average of $3,930 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Morgan Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $15,579. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,552 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Morgan Community College. In fact, around 51% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Community College of Denver 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 #8 on the list. Community College of Denver is a medium-sized public school located in Denver, Colorado that handed out 728 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at CCD is $4,586. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $16,235. Associate Degree recipients from CCD accumulate an average of $14,939 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
CCD 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 fact, around 59% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Otero Junior College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. This very small public school is located in La Junta, Colorado, and it awarded 187 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Colorado who attend Otero JC full time pay an average of $4,226 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,730. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,572 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Otero JC does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 32% took at least some of their classes online.
Intellitec College - Colorado Springs ranked #10 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Colorado list. Intellitec College - Colorado Springs is a private for-profit institution located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 72 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,618 in student loans.
With a ranking of #11, DeVry University - Colorado did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. DeVry University - Colorado is a private for-profit institution located in Westminster, Colorado. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 3 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $15,032 to cover tuition and fees at DeVry University - Colorado. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Associate Degree recipients from DeVry University - Colorado accumulate an average of $29,404 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out DeVry University - Colorado. Every undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
Front Range Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Colorado list. Located in Westminster, Colorado, the fairly large public school awarded 1,906 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Students from Colorado who attend FRCC full time pay an average of $4,126 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $15,776. Associate Degree recipients from FRCC accumulate an average of $18,200 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at FRCC. In fact, around 33% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
IBMC College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Colorado ranking. IBMC College is a very small private for-profit school located in Fort Collins, Colorado that handed out 7 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at IBMC is $14,960. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,848 in student loans.
Colorado Mesa 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 #14 on the list. Colorado Mesa University is a medium-sized public school located in Grand Junction, Colorado that handed out 220 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Colorado Mesa is $9,297. Out-of-state students pay an average of $23,019. Associate Degree recipients from Colorado Mesa accumulate an average of $21,002 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Colorado Mesa, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 43% took at least some of their classes online.
Pueblo Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Colorado ranking. Located in Pueblo, Colorado, the medium-sized public school awarded 660 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Pueblo Community College is $4,626. Out-of-state students pay an average of $16,275. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,253 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Pueblo Community College does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 33% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Pikes Peak 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 #16 on the list. PPCC is a public institution located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,611 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Colorado who attend PPCC full time pay an average of $4,065 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,714. On average, associate degree students take out $12,660 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at PPCC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 51% took at least some of their classes online.
Colorado Christian University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Colorado ranking. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Lakewood, Colorado, and it awarded 210 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $26,846 to cover tuition and fees at CCU. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, associate degree students take out $29,911 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since CCU does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 49% took at least some of their classes online.
Colorado Mountain 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 #18 on the list. Colorado Mountain College is a medium-sized public school located in Glenwood Springs, Colorado that handed out 484 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Colorado pay an average of $4,980 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Colorado Mountain College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $11,820. Associate Degree recipients from Colorado Mountain College accumulate an average of $10,854 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 Colorado Mountain College does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 27% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Trinidad State Junior College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Colorado list. Located in Trinidad, Colorado, the small public school handed out 241 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $5,240 in tuition and fees if they attend Trinidad State Junior College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,360. On average, associate degree students take out $12,954 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Trinidad State Junior 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, 15% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Northeastern Junior College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. NJC is a small public school situated in Sterling, Colorado. It awarded 215 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Colorado pay an average of $5,345 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend NJC. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,691. On average, associate degree students take out $14,090 in loans while pursuing their degree.
NJC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 30% took at least some of their classes online.
Intellitec College - Grand Junction ranked #21 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Colorado list. Intellitec College - Grand Junction is a small private for-profit school located in Grand Junction, Colorado that handed out 77 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Associate Degree recipients from Intellitec College - Grand Junction accumulate an average of $18,919 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 21 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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