2023 Best Basic Certificate 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.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Trade College Search has created the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 42 schools in the Rocky Mountains Region to see which ones offered the best basic certificate programs for trade school students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Trade Basic Certificate 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 basic certificate. University of Providence is a very small private not-for-profit school situated in Great Falls, Montana. It awarded 48 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $27,606 to cover tuition and fees at University of Providence. The school does not offer an in-state discount.
If you are interested in distance education, University of Providence is an excellent choice, since the school is online.
Out of the 42 schools in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Red Rocks Community College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Lakewood, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 1,290 students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Red Rocks Community College is $4,471. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $16,135.
Red Rocks 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. In 2020-2021 about 51% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Out of the 42 schools in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Western Wyoming Community College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in Rock Springs, Wyoming, the small public school awarded 35 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $3,600 in tuition and fees if they attend WWCC full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,640.
One thing to take note of is that WWCC does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 55% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Out of the 42 schools in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Laramie County Community College landed the # 4 spot on the list. LCCC is a public institution located in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The school has a small population, and it awarded 222 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from Wyoming who attend LCCC full time pay an average of $4,613 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,913.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at LCCC. During the 2020-2021 year, about 48% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Weber State University is a great place for trade school students working on their basic certificate. WSU is located in Ogden, Utah and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 283 basic certificates to qualified students.
Students from Utah who attend WSU full time pay an average of $6,391 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $17,084.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at WSU. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 47% took at least some of their classes online.
Trinidad State Junior College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #6 on the list. Trinidad State Junior College is a small public school located in Trinidad, Colorado that handed out 339 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Colorado pay an average of $5,240 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Trinidad State Junior College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,360.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Trinidad State Junior College. In fact, around 15% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Pikes Peak Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. PPCC is a public institution located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,253 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,065 in tuition and fees if they attend PPCC full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,714.
PPCC 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.
With a ranking of #8, Front Range Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. FRCC is a fairly large public school situated in Westminster, Colorado. It awarded 3,473 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at FRCC is $4,126. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $15,776.
Some students may be able to take online classes at FRCC. 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.
Colorado Mountain College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Glenwood Springs, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 647 students in 2021-2022.
Students from Colorado who attend Colorado Mountain College full time pay an average of $4,980 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $11,820.
Online courses are available at Colorado Mountain College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. 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.
With a ranking of #10, Colorado Northwestern Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Colorado Northwestern Community College is a small public school located in Rangely, Colorado that handed out 65 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from Colorado who attend CNCC full time pay an average of $4,236 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,740.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at CNCC. During the 2020-2021 year, about 25% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Colorado Mesa University landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Grand Junction, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 383 students in 2021-2022.
Students from Colorado who attend Colorado Mesa full time pay an average of $9,297 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $23,019.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Colorado Mesa. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 43% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #12, Otero Junior College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Otero JC is a very small public school situated in La Junta, Colorado. It awarded 94 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Otero JC is $4,226. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,730.
Otero JC 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 32% took at least some of their classes online.
Morgan Community College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Morgan Community College is a public institution located in Fort Morgan, Colorado. The school has a small population, and it awarded 69 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $3,930 in tuition and fees if they attend Morgan Community College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $15,579.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Morgan Community College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 51% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Community College of Aurora landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. CCA is a public institution located in Aurora, Colorado. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 298 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from Colorado who attend CCA full time pay an average of $4,030 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $15,832.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at CCA. In fact, around 22% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Intellitec College - Grand Junction came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Intellitec College - Grand Junction is located in Grand Junction, Colorado and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 180 basic certificates to qualified students.
With a ranking of #16, Boise State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Boise, Idaho is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 629 students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Boise State is $8,364. Out-of-state students pay an average of $25,701.
Boise State does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 63% took at least some of their classes online.
IBMC College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. IBMC is a very small private for-profit school situated in Fort Collins, Colorado. It awarded 25 basic certificates 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.
Northeastern Junior College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Located in Sterling, Colorado, the small public school awarded 273 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
Students from Colorado who attend NJC full time pay an average of $5,345 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,691.
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.
Aims Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Aims Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Greeley, Colorado. It awarded 819 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $2,954 in tuition and fees if they attend Aims Community College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,850.
Aims 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. In 2020-2021 about 44% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Idaho State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. ISU is a fairly large public school situated in Pocatello, Idaho. It awarded 140 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Idaho pay an average of $7,958 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend ISU. Out-of-state students pay an average of $25,936.
Online courses are available at ISU, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 54% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Lewis - Clark State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #21 on the list. Lewis - Clark State College is a small public school located in Lewiston, Idaho that handed out 44 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
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. In 2020-2021 about 51% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Utah Valley University landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate trade school programs. Located in Orem, Utah, the large public school handed out 2,564 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $6,270 in tuition and fees if they attend UVU full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $17,830.
UVU does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 57% took at least some of their classes online.
Pueblo Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Pueblo Community College is a public institution located in Pueblo, Colorado. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,815 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Colorado pay an average of $4,626 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Pueblo Community College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $16,275.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Pueblo Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 33% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #24, Casper College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Casper College is a public institution located in Casper, Wyoming. The school has a small population, and it awarded 36 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Wyoming pay an average of $3,528 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Casper College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,568.
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, 54% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Snow College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Snow College is a medium-sized public school situated in Ephraim, Utah. It awarded 239 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Snow College is $4,180. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $14,130.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Snow College does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 69% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
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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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