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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. CNCC is a public institution located in Rangely, Colorado. The school has a small population, and it awarded 137 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Colorado who attend CNCC full time pay an average of $4,236 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,740. On average, associate degree students take out $12,923 in loans while pursuing their degree.
CNCC 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 2020-2021 academic year, around 25% took at least some of their classes online.
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. This medium-sized public school is located in Aurora, Colorado, and it awarded 620 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at CCA is $4,030. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $15,832. On average, associate degree students take out $17,334 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that CCA does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 22% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Aims Community College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Colorado list. Aims Community College is located in Greeley, Colorado and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 686 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Aims Community College is $2,954. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,850. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,156 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Aims Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 44% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Red Rocks Community College is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree. 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. Out-of-state students pay an average of $16,135. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,553 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Red Rocks Community College. 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 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 #6 on the list. 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.
Full-time students from Colorado pay an average of $4,080 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Arapahoe Community College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,502. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,611 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, Arapahoe Community College is an excellent choice, since the school is online.
Morgan Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Colorado list. Morgan Community College is a public institution located in Fort Morgan, Colorado. The school has a small population, and it awarded 134 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Colorado who attend Morgan Community College full time pay an average of $3,930 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,579. On average, associate degree students take out $9,552 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Morgan Community 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. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 51% took at least some of their classes online.
Community College of Denver came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Colorado ranking. Located in Denver, Colorado, the medium-sized public school handed out 728 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Students from Colorado who attend CCD full time pay an average of $4,586 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $16,235. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,939 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at CCD. During the 2020-2021 year, about 59% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Otero Junior College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Colorado list. Otero Junior College is a very small public school located in La Junta, Colorado that handed out 187 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Colorado pay an average of $4,226 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Otero JC. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,730. Associate Degree recipients from Otero JC accumulate an average of $17,572 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 Otero JC does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 32% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #10, Intellitec College - Colorado Springs did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Intellitec College - Colorado Springs is a very small private for-profit school situated in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It awarded 72 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Associate Degree recipients from Intellitec College - Colorado Springs accumulate an average of $16,618 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
DeVry University - Colorado landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. DeVry University - Colorado is a very small private for-profit school situated in Westminster, Colorado. It awarded 3 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
DeVry University - Colorado does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $15,032. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,404 in student loans.
Since DeVry University - Colorado is primarily an online school, it is an excellent choice for undergraduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.
With a ranking of #12, Front Range Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Westminster, Colorado, the fairly large public school awarded 1,906 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,126 in tuition and fees if they attend FRCC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $15,776. On average, associate degree students take out $18,200 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since FRCC does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 33% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
IBMC College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. IBMC College is a very small private for-profit school located in Fort Collins, Colorado that handed out 7 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $14,960 to cover tuition and fees at IBMC. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, associate degree students take out $23,848 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Colorado Mesa University landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. Located in Grand Junction, Colorado, the medium-sized public school awarded 220 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $9,297 in tuition and fees if they attend Colorado Mesa full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $23,019. On average, associate degree students take out $21,002 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Colorado Mesa 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. During the 2020-2021 year, about 43% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Pueblo 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 #15 on the list. Located in Pueblo, Colorado, the medium-sized public school handed out 660 associate degree awards 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. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 33% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Pikes Peak Community College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree trade school programs. PPCC is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,611 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at PPCC is $4,065. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,714. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,660 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since PPCC does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 51% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Colorado Christian University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Colorado ranking. Colorado Christian University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Lakewood, Colorado that handed out 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. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,911 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at CCU. 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 came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Colorado ranking. Located in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, the medium-sized public school awarded 484 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,980 in tuition and fees if they attend Colorado Mountain College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $11,820. On average, associate degree students take out $10,854 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Colorado Mountain College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 27% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #19, Trinidad State Junior College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. 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. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,360. On average, associate degree students take out $12,954 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Trinidad State Junior College. In 2020-2021 about 15% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Northeastern Junior College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Colorado ranking. Sterling, Colorado is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 215 students in 2021-2022.
Students from Colorado who attend NJC full time pay an average of $5,345 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,691. Associate Degree recipients from NJC accumulate an average of $14,090 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at NJC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2020-2021 year, about 30% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #21, Intellitec College - Grand Junction did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. 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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