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Best Trade Schools in Colorado

2023 Best Trade Schools in Colorado

25 Schools Ranked
$43,550 Average Earnings
$29,555 Avg Student Debt

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 help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Best Trade Schools in Colorado ranking. Our analysis looked at 25 schools in Colorado to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Trade Schools in Colorado

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Red Rocks Community College

Lakewood, Colorado
2,069 Total Awards

Our 2023 rankings named Red Rocks Community College the best school in Colorado for trade school students working on their degree. This medium-sized public school is located in Lakewood, Colorado, and it awarded 2,069 degrees in 2021-2022.

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974 Total Awards

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Colorado State University - Pueblo. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Trade Schools in Colorado list. Located in Pueblo, Colorado, the medium-sized public school awarded 974 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Full Colorado State University - Pueblo Report

#3

Regis University

Denver, Colorado
2,060 Total Awards

The excellent programs at Regis University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade schools in Colorado. Located in Denver, Colorado, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 2,060 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

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#4

IBMC College

Fort Collins, Colorado
345 Total Awards

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend IBMC College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Trade Schools in Colorado list. IBMC is a very small private for-profit school situated in Fort Collins, Colorado. It awarded 345 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on IBMC College

255 Total Awards

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Colorado Northwestern Community College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Colorado list. Colorado Northwestern Community College is a small public school located in Rangely, Colorado that handed out 255 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Colorado Northwestern Community College

#6

University of Northern Colorado

Greeley, Colorado
2,848 Total Awards

University of Northern Colorado landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. University of Northern Colorado is a medium-sized public school situated in Greeley, Colorado. It awarded 2,848 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#7

Trinidad State Junior College

Trinidad, Colorado
701 Total Awards

With a ranking of #7, Trinidad State Junior College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Trinidad State Junior College is a small public school located in Trinidad, Colorado that handed out 701 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Trinidad State Junior College

#9

Front Range Community College

Westminster, Colorado
5,675 Total Awards

Front Range Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #9 on the list. FRCC is a public institution located in Westminster, Colorado. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5,675 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#10

Intellitec College - Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs, Colorado
288 Total Awards

With a ranking of #10, Intellitec College - Colorado Springs did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. 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 288 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Intellitec College - Colorado Springs

#11

Colorado Mountain College

Glenwood Springs, Colorado
1,329 Total Awards

With a ranking of #11, Colorado Mountain College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. This medium-sized public school is located in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, and it awarded 1,329 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Colorado Mountain College

#12

Pikes Peak Community College

Colorado Springs, Colorado
3,050 Total Awards

With a ranking of #12, Pikes Peak Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. PPCC is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3,050 degrees to qualified students.

Full Pikes Peak Community College Report

#13

Otero Junior College

La Junta, Colorado
349 Total Awards

Otero Junior College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Otero Junior College is a very small public school located in La Junta, Colorado that handed out 349 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Otero Junior College Report

#14

Community College of Aurora

Aurora, Colorado
1,000 Total Awards

Community College of Aurora ranked #14 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Colorado list. CCA is located in Aurora, Colorado and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,000 degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Community College of Aurora

#15

Morgan Community College

Fort Morgan, Colorado
248 Total Awards

Morgan Community College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Morgan Community College is located in Fort Morgan, Colorado and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 248 degrees to qualified students.

Full Morgan Community College Report

#16

Colorado Mesa University

Grand Junction, Colorado
1,939 Total Awards

Colorado Mesa University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #16 on the list. Colorado Mesa is located in Grand Junction, Colorado and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,939 degrees to qualified students.

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#17

Arapahoe Community College

Littleton, Colorado
1,505 Total Awards

With a ranking of #17, Arapahoe Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Arapahoe Community College is a fairly large public school located in Littleton, Colorado that handed out 1,505 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Arapahoe Community College Report

#18

Aims Community College

Greeley, Colorado
1,595 Total Awards

Aims Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #18 on the list. Greeley, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,595 students in 2021-2022.

Full Aims Community College Report

#19

Northeastern Junior College

Sterling, Colorado
544 Total Awards

With a ranking of #19, Northeastern Junior College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Located in Sterling, Colorado, the small public school awarded 544 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

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#20

Intellitec College - Grand Junction

Grand Junction, Colorado
656 Total Awards

Intellitec College - Grand Junction ranked #20 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Colorado list. Located in Grand Junction, Colorado, the small private for-profit school handed out 656 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Intellitec College - Grand Junction

3,626 Total Awards

Metropolitan State University of Denver landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Metropolitan State University of Denver is a fairly large public school located in Denver, Colorado that handed out 3,626 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Metropolitan State University of Denver Report

#22

Colorado Christian University

Lakewood, Colorado
1,497 Total Awards

Colorado Christian University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Colorado list. Colorado Christian University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Lakewood, Colorado that handed out 1,497 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Colorado Christian University Report

#23

Pueblo Community College

Pueblo, Colorado
2,592 Total Awards

Pueblo Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Colorado ranking. Located in Pueblo, Colorado, the medium-sized public school awarded 2,592 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Pueblo Community College

#24

Lamar Community College

Lamar, Colorado
215 Total Awards

Lamar Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Colorado ranking. Lamar Community College is a very small public school located in Lamar, Colorado that handed out 215 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Lamar Community College

#25

Community College of Denver

Denver, Colorado
1,239 Total Awards

Community College of Denver ranked #25 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Colorado list. This medium-sized public school is located in Denver, Colorado, and it awarded 1,239 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Community College of Denver Report

Best Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region

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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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