Find Trade Colleges

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 analysis found Red Rocks Community College to be the best school for trade school students in Colorado. Red Rocks Community College is a public institution located in Lakewood, Colorado. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2,069 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read More…

974 Total Awards

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Colorado State University - Pueblo is a great place for trade school students. Located in Pueblo, Colorado, the medium-sized public school handed out 974 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Colorado State University - Pueblo

#3

Regis University

Denver, Colorado
2,060 Total Awards

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Regis University. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Colorado list. Regis U is located in Denver, Colorado and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,060 degrees to qualified students.

Read More…

#4

IBMC College

Fort Collins, Colorado
345 Total Awards

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend IBMC College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Colorado list. This very small private for-profit school is located in Fort Collins, Colorado, and it awarded 345 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full IBMC College Report

255 Total Awards

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Colorado Northwestern Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Trade Schools in Colorado list. CNCC is a small public school situated in Rangely, Colorado. It awarded 255 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read More…

#6

University of Northern Colorado

Greeley, Colorado
2,848 Total Awards

University of Northern Colorado did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #6 on the list. University of Northern Colorado is a medium-sized public school located in Greeley, Colorado that handed out 2,848 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read More…

#7

Trinidad State Junior College

Trinidad, Colorado
701 Total Awards

Trinidad State Junior College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #7 on the list. Trinidad State Junior College is a small public school situated in Trinidad, Colorado. It awarded 701 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Trinidad State Junior College Report

#9

Front Range Community College

Westminster, Colorado
5,675 Total Awards

Front Range Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Colorado ranking. Located in Westminster, Colorado, the fairly large public school awarded 5,675 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Read More…

#10

Intellitec College - Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs, Colorado
288 Total Awards

Intellitec College - Colorado Springs did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #10 on the list. Colorado Springs, Colorado is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 288 students in 2021-2022.

Read More…

#11

Colorado Mountain College

Glenwood Springs, Colorado
1,329 Total Awards

Colorado Mountain College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. 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

Pikes Peak Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Colorado ranking. 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.

Read full report on Pikes Peak Community College

#13

Otero Junior College

La Junta, Colorado
349 Total Awards

Otero Junior College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Colorado ranking. 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.

Full Community College of Aurora Report

#15

Morgan Community College

Fort Morgan, Colorado
248 Total Awards

Morgan Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Colorado list. Located in Fort Morgan, Colorado, the small public school handed out 248 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Morgan Community College Report

#16

Colorado Mesa University

Grand Junction, Colorado
1,939 Total Awards

Colorado Mesa University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Colorado Mesa University is a medium-sized public school located in Grand Junction, Colorado that handed out 1,939 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read More…

#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 situated in Littleton, Colorado. It awarded 1,505 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read More…

#18

Aims Community College

Greeley, Colorado
1,595 Total Awards

With a ranking of #18, Aims Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. This medium-sized public school is located in Greeley, Colorado, and it awarded 1,595 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Aims Community College Report

#19

Northeastern Junior College

Sterling, Colorado
544 Total Awards

Northeastern Junior College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #19 on the list. Sterling, Colorado is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 544 students in 2021-2022.

Read More…

#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 awarded 656 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Read More…

3,626 Total Awards

With a ranking of #21, Metropolitan State University of Denver did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Located in Denver, Colorado, the fairly large public school awarded 3,626 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Metropolitan State University of Denver

#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. CCU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lakewood, Colorado. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,497 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Colorado Christian University

#23

Pueblo Community College

Pueblo, Colorado
2,592 Total Awards

Pueblo Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #23 on the list. Located in Pueblo, Colorado, the medium-sized public school awarded 2,592 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Full Pueblo Community College Report

#24

Lamar Community College

Lamar, Colorado
215 Total Awards

With a ranking of #24, Lamar Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. LCC is located in Lamar, Colorado and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 215 degrees to qualified students.

Full Lamar Community College Report

#25

Community College of Denver

Denver, Colorado
1,239 Total Awards

Community College of Denver came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Colorado ranking. CCD is a public institution located in Denver, Colorado. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,239 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Community College of Denver

Best Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region

View Best Trade Schools Nationwide >

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.

Find Trade Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited trade schools across the U.S.