2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
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 Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 50 schools in the Rocky Mountains Region to see which associate degree programs offered the best value experiences for trade school students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
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Top Value Trade Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Brigham Young University - Idaho to be the best value school for trade school students who want to pursue a associate degree in the Rocky Mountains Region . Located in Rexburg, Idaho, the large private not-for-profit school awarded 1,895 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at BYU - I are $4,536 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $13,442 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 BYU - I does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 78% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
BYU - I also claimed a spot on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Colorado Northwestern Community College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. CNCC is located in Rangely, Colorado and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 137 associate degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at CNCC are $6,740 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $12,923 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at CNCC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 25% took at least some of their classes online.
CNCC also claimed a spot on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
Out of the 50 schools in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s value ranking, Highlands College of Montana Tech landed the # 3 spot on the list. This very small public school is located in Butte, Montana, and it awarded 53 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Highlands College of Montana Tech are $9,642 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $13,254 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Highlands College of Montana Tech does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 29% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Highlands College of Montana Tech not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #2 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list.
The excellent associate degree programs at Western Wyoming Community College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value trade school schools in the Rocky Mountains Region . This small public school is located in Rock Springs, Wyoming, and it awarded 262 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WWCC are $8,640 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,197 in student loans.
WWCC 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 55% took at least some of their classes online.
WWCC excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list.
The excellent associate degree programs at College of Eastern Idaho helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best value trade school schools in the Rocky Mountains Region . College of Eastern Idaho is a small public school located in Idaho Falls, Idaho that handed out 276 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
CEI undergraduate students pay an average of $6,750 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $14,077 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
CEI does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 75% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Otero Junior College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #6 on the list. This very small public school is located in La Junta, Colorado, and it awarded 187 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Otero JC are $6,730 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $17,572 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Otero JC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 32% took at least some of their classes online.
Northern Wyoming Community College District did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in Sheridan, Wyoming, the small public school handed out 472 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Northern Wyoming Community College District undergraduate students pay an average of $11,130 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $11,152 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Northern Wyoming Community College District, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 37% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Northern Wyoming Community College District also did well on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
College of Southern Idaho came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Twin Falls, Idaho, and it awarded 1,011 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
College of Southern Idaho undergraduate students pay an average of $6,840 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $10,040 in loans while pursuing their degree.
College of Southern Idaho 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, 39% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Casper College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Casper College is a small public school situated in Casper, Wyoming. It awarded 609 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Casper College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,568 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $12,545 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 Casper College does offer online classes for certain majors. 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.
North Idaho College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. NIC is located in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 729 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at NIC are $8,736 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,435 in student loans.
NIC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 72% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
College of Western Idaho landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Located in Nampa, Idaho, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,040 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at CWI are $7,344 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,967 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at CWI. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 47% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Laramie County Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. LCCC is a small public school situated in Cheyenne, Wyoming. It awarded 445 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at LCCC are $10,913 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,675 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that LCCC does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 48% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
LCCC also claimed a spot on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
Trinidad State Junior College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Trinidad State Junior College is a small public school situated in Trinidad, Colorado. It awarded 241 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Trinidad State Junior College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,360 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,954 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Trinidad State Junior College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 15% took at least some of their classes online.
Miles Community College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Miles Community College is a very small public school located in Miles City, Montana that handed out 81 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Miles Community College are $10,110 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $17,203 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Miles Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 75% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #15, Aims Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Greeley, Colorado, the medium-sized public school handed out 686 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Aims Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $10,850 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $10,156 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Aims Community College. In 2020-2021 about 44% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Utah Valley University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #16 on the list. This large public school is located in Orem, Utah, and it awarded 4,917 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at UVU are $17,830 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $12,562 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 UVU does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 57% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
UVU also made our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list, coming in at #5.
Northeastern Junior College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. NJC is a public institution located in Sterling, Colorado. The school has a small population, and it awarded 215 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at NJC are $7,691 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $14,090 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at NJC. In fact, around 30% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Helena College University of Montana came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Helena College is a public institution located in Helena, Montana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 138 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Helena College undergraduate students pay an average of $9,863 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $17,556 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Helena College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 41% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Salt Lake Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #18 on the list. Salt Lake Community College is located in Salt Lake City, Utah and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3,261 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Salt Lake Community College are $13,701 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $10,066 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Salt Lake Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 47% took at least some of their classes online.
University of Providence came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. University of Providence is located in Great Falls, Montana and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1 associate degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at University of Providence are $27,606 per year.
Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out University of Providence. Every undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
University of Providence also made our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list, coming in at #1.
Montana State University - Northern did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #22 on the list. Montana State University - Northern is a small public school situated in Havre, Montana. It awarded 104 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Montana State University - Northern undergraduate students pay an average of $18,665 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $21,483 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Montana State University - Northern does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 61% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Montana State University - Northern not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #4 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list.
Central Wyoming College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #23 on the list. Located in Riverton, Wyoming, the small public school handed out 242 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
CWC undergraduate students pay an average of $10,980 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $10,984 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that CWC does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 47% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Utah State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for trade school students to get an associate degree. It came in at #24 on the list. Located in Logan, Utah, the large public school awarded 1,092 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at USU are $24,223 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $15,964 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
USU does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 70% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
USU did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list.
Community College of Aurora ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Aurora, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 620 students in 2021-2022.
CCA undergraduate students pay an average of $15,832 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,334 in student loans.
Online courses are available at CCA, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 22% took at least some of their classes online.
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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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