Find Trade Colleges
2026 Best Trade Schools in Colorado
Looking for the best Trade degree programs in Colorado? This list ranks 86 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Trade College evaluated 69 schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Trade Degree Schools in Colorado
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Red Rocks Community College to be the best Trade school in Colorado. Based in Lakewood, CO, Red Rocks Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,859, compared with $17,459 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $14,471 in student loans. See the full Red Rocks Community College profile
Colorado State University Pueblo came in at #2 on this year's Trade ranking in Colorado. This public school is set in Pueblo, CO. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,720, while out-of-state students pay about $17,944. Graduates carry a median of $25,325 in student loans. See the full Colorado State University Pueblo profile
The strong Trade programs at Regis University earned it the #3 place in Colorado. Set in Denver, CO, Regis University is a private not-for-profit institution. Regis University posts a six-year graduation rate of 62%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,140. Regis University Trade students take on a median of $31,773 in debt. See the full Regis University profile
Institute Of Business And Medical Careers came in at #4 on this year's Trade ranking in Colorado. Located in Fort Collins, CO, Institute Of Business And Medical Careers is a private for-profit institution. Institute Of Business And Medical Careers Trade students take on a median of $10,738 in debt. More on Institute Of Business And Medical Careers
Colorado Northwestern Community College came in at #5 on this year's Trade ranking in Colorado. Colorado Northwestern Community College is a public school based in Rangely, CO. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,594, compared with $7,304 for out-of-state students. The median Trade program debt is $18,127. More on Colorado Northwestern Community College
University Of Northern Colorado ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Located in Greeley, CO, University Of Northern Colorado is a public institution. About 51% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $11,901 in tuition and fees, compared with $26,979 for out-of-state students. Typical Trade student debt is $23,974. Read more about University Of Northern Colorado
Trinidad State Junior College landed the #7 spot in Colorado this year. Located in Trinidad, CO, Trinidad State Junior College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,608, compared with $7,318 for out-of-state students. Typical Trade student debt is $10,502. See the full Trinidad State Junior College profile
Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs placed #8 among Trade schools in Colorado. Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs is a private for-profit school based in Colorado Springs, CO. Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs posts a six-year graduation rate of 14%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,750. The median Trade program debt is $39,095. More on Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs
Front Range Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Front Range Community College is a public school based in Westminster, CO. Students from in state pay about $4,663 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,263. Students borrow a median of $17,384 to complete their Trade program here. More on Front Range Community College
Intellitec College Colorado Springs ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Based in Colorado Springs, CO, Intellitec College Colorado Springs is a private for-profit institution. Typical Trade student debt is $15,716. See the full Intellitec College Colorado Springs profile
Colorado Mountain College came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Set in Glenwood Springs, CO, Colorado Mountain College is a public institution. Colorado Mountain College posts a six-year graduation rate of 14%. Students from in state pay about $2,616 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,840. Typical Trade student debt is $12,953. Read more about Colorado Mountain College
Pikes Peak Community College came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Based in Colorado Springs, CO, Pikes Peak Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,510 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,110. Graduates carry a median of $16,066 in student loans. Read more about Pikes Peak Community College
Otero Junior College landed the #13 spot in Colorado this year. Located in La Junta, CO, Otero Junior College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, compared with $7,270 for out-of-state students. The median Trade program debt is $21,759. Read more about Otero Junior College
Community College Of Aurora came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Set in Aurora, CO, Community College Of Aurora is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,470, while out-of-state students pay about $17,070. Typical Trade student debt is $15,365. See the full Community College Of Aurora profile
Morgan Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Located in Fort Morgan, CO, Morgan Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,252, while out-of-state students pay about $16,852. The median Trade program debt is $11,746. More on Morgan Community College
Mesa State College placed #16 among Trade schools in Colorado. Set in Grand Junction, CO, Mesa State College is a public institution. About 47% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,927, while out-of-state students pay about $25,124. Students borrow a median of $22,310 to complete their Trade program here. Read the full report on Mesa State College
Arapahoe Community College landed the #17 spot in Colorado this year. Based in Littleton, CO, Arapahoe Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,434, with out-of-state students paying around $17,034. Students borrow a median of $20,448 to complete their Trade program here. Get the full Arapahoe Community College report
Aims Community College placed #18 among Trade schools in Colorado. Aims Community College is a public school based in Greeley, CO. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,258, compared with $11,786 for out-of-state students. The median Trade program debt is $11,199. Read more about Aims Community College
Northeastern Junior College landed the #19 spot in Colorado this year. Set in Sterling, CO, Northeastern Junior College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,730, compared with $8,267 for out-of-state students. Northeastern Junior College Trade students take on a median of $13,156 in debt. Read more about Northeastern Junior College
Intellitec College Grand Junction placed #20 among Trade schools in Colorado. Intellitec College Grand Junction is a private for-profit school based in Grand Junction, CO. Students borrow a median of $11,767 to complete their Trade program here. Read the full report on Intellitec College Grand Junction
Metropolitan State College Of Denver did well this year, earning the #21 position. Set in Denver, CO, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a public institution. About 31% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,124, while out-of-state students pay about $30,684. The median Trade program debt is $27,484. Get the full Metropolitan State College Of Denver report
Colorado Christian University did well this year, earning the #22 position. Colorado Christian University is a private not-for-profit school based in Lakewood, CO. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,846. Graduates carry a median of $36,092 in student loans. Read more about Colorado Christian University
Pueblo Community College landed the #23 spot in Colorado this year. Located in Pueblo, CO, Pueblo Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,049, while out-of-state students pay about $17,649. Students borrow a median of $14,106 to complete their Trade program here. Get the full Pueblo Community College report
Lamar Community College landed the #24 spot in Colorado this year. Based in Lamar, CO, Lamar Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,550, while out-of-state students pay about $7,260. Graduates carry a median of $9,300 in student loans. Get the full Lamar Community College report
Community College Of Denver came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Located in Denver, CO, Community College Of Denver is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,058, compared with $17,658 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $18,830 in student loans. More on Community College Of Denver
Rest of the Top 50 Best Trade Degree Schools in Colorado
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Stacey James Institute placed #26 among Trade schools in Colorado. See the full Stacey James Institute profile
Pima Medical Institute Aurora landed the #27 spot in Colorado this year. Read more about Pima Medical Institute Aurora
Empire Beauty School Aurora landed the #28 spot in Colorado this year. See the full Empire Beauty School Aurora profile
Colorado College
Colorado College did well this year, earning the #29 position. Read the full report on Colorado College
Arizona College Of Nursing Aurora came in at #30 in this year's ranking. Get the full Arizona College Of Nursing Aurora report
Rocky Vista University landed the #31 spot in Colorado this year. More on Rocky Vista University
Institute Of Taoist Education And Acupuncture came in at #32 in this year's ranking. Get the full Institute Of Taoist Education And Acupuncture report
United Beauty College placed #33 among Trade schools in Colorado. Get the full United Beauty College report
National Institute For Medical Assistant Advancement Nimaa did well this year, earning the #34 position. See the full National Institute For Medical Assistant Advancement Nimaa profile
University Of Denver landed the #35 spot in Colorado this year. Read more about University Of Denver
Platt College Aurora came in at #36 in this year's ranking. See the full Platt College Aurora profile
University Of Colorado Denver placed #37 among Trade schools in Colorado. Read more about University Of Colorado Denver
Rolf Institute Of Structural Integration placed #38 among Trade schools in Colorado. More on Rolf Institute Of Structural Integration
Concorde Career College Aurora came in at #39 in this year's ranking. Get the full Concorde Career College Aurora report
Colorado Academy Of Veterinary Technology did well this year, earning the #40 position. Read the full report on Colorado Academy Of Veterinary Technology
Colorado School Of Trades ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. See the full Colorado School Of Trades profile
Colorado School Of Healing Arts placed #42 among Trade schools in Colorado. Get the full Colorado School Of Healing Arts report
Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Colorado Springs placed #43 among Trade schools in Colorado. See the full Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Colorado Springs profile
Tuana European Beauty Academy did well this year, earning the #44 position. Get the full Tuana European Beauty Academy report
Colorado School Of Traditional Chinese Medicine came in at #45 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Colorado School Of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Fort Lewis College placed #46 among Trade schools in Colorado. Get the full Fort Lewis College report
Montessori Education Center Of The Rockies came in at #47 in this year's ranking. Read more about Montessori Education Center Of The Rockies
Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design did well this year, earning the #48 position. More on Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design
Pickens Technical College came in at #49 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Pickens Technical College
Adams State College placed #50 among Trade schools in Colorado. More on Adams State College
More Trade Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 69 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 86 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
TradeCollege.org provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. TradeCollege.org is a for-profit site, and the displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© TradeCollege.org – All Rights Reserved.