2023 Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Colorado
Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
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 assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Trade College Search has created its Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Colorado ranking. This report analyzed 21 schools in Colorado to see which ones offered the best value associate degree programs for trade school students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. 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.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used 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 Colorado
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Aims Community College the best value school in Colorado for trade school students working on their associate degree. This medium-sized public school is located in Greeley, Colorado, and it awarded 686 associate degrees 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.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Aims Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 44% took at least some of their classes online.
Aims Community College not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #4 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Colorado list.
The excellent associate degree programs at Colorado Northwestern Community College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best value trade school schools in Colorado. CNCC is a small public school situated in Rangely, Colorado. It awarded 137 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at CNCC are $6,740 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $12,923 in loans while pursuing their degree.
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.
CNCC did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Colorado list.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Community College of Aurora is a great place for trade school students working on their associate degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. Located in Aurora, Colorado, the medium-sized public school handed out 620 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at CCA are $15,832 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $17,334 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
CCA does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 22% took at least some of their classes online.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, CCA is ranked #2 for overall quality in Colorado.
Out of the 21 schools in Colorado that were part of this year’s value ranking, Morgan Community College landed the # 4 spot on the list. Morgan Community College is a small public school located in Fort Morgan, Colorado that handed out 134 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Morgan Community College are $15,579 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $9,552 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Morgan Community College. In 2020-2021 about 51% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Arapahoe Community College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Colorado list. Arapahoe Community College is a public institution located in Littleton, Colorado. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 754 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Arapahoe Community College are $15,502 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $15,611 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Since Arapahoe Community College is primarily an online school, it is an excellent choice for undergraduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.
With a ranking of #6, Red Rocks Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. This medium-sized public school is located in Lakewood, Colorado, and it awarded 593 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Red Rocks Community College are $16,135 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $14,553 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
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. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 51% took at least some of their classes online.
Red Rocks Community College not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #5 on our Best Associate Degree Trade Schools in Colorado list.
Front Range Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Colorado ranking. Located in Westminster, Colorado, the fairly large public school awarded 1,906 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at FRCC are $15,776 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $18,200 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at FRCC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 33% took at least some of their classes online.
Otero Junior College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Otero JC is located in La Junta, Colorado and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 187 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Otero JC are $6,730 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $17,572 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 Otero JC does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 32% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #9, Pikes Peak Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the fairly large public school handed out 1,611 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
PPCC undergraduate students pay an average of $15,714 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,660 in student loans.
Online courses are available at PPCC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 51% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Community College of Denver came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Colorado ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Denver, Colorado, and it awarded 728 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at CCD are $16,235 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $14,939 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at CCD, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2020-2021 year, about 59% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Pueblo 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 #11 on the list. Pueblo Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Pueblo, Colorado. It awarded 660 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Pueblo Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $16,275 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $14,253 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Pueblo Community College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 33% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Trinidad State Junior College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Colorado list. Located in Trinidad, Colorado, the small public school handed out 241 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Trinidad State Junior College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,360 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $12,954 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Trinidad State Junior College. In 2020-2021 about 15% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Colorado Mountain College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree trade school programs. Located in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, the medium-sized public school handed out 484 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Colorado Mountain College undergraduate students pay an average of $11,820 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $10,854 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
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. In fact, around 27% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Northeastern Junior College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Colorado list. NJC is a small public school situated in Sterling, Colorado. It awarded 215 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NJC are $7,691 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $14,090 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since NJC does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 30% took at least some of their classes online.
Colorado Mesa University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Colorado ranking. Located in Grand Junction, Colorado, the medium-sized public school awarded 220 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Colorado Mesa are $23,019 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $21,002 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Colorado Mesa, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 43% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
DeVry University - Colorado came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Colorado ranking. DeVry University - Colorado is a private for-profit institution located in Westminster, Colorado. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 3 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at DeVry University - Colorado are $15,032 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $29,404 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
DeVry University - Colorado is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
IBMC 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. IBMC is located in Fort Collins, Colorado and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 7 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at IBMC are $14,960 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $23,848 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Colorado Christian University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Colorado list. Located in Lakewood, Colorado, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 210 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
CCU undergraduate students pay an average of $26,846 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $29,911 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at CCU. In 2020-2021 about 49% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Intellitec College - Grand Junction came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Trade School Associate Degree Schools in Colorado ranking. This small private for-profit school is located in Grand Junction, Colorado, and it awarded 77 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Intellitec College - Grand Junction undergraduate students pay an average of $0 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $18,919 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
With a ranking of #20, Intellitec College - Colorado Springs did quite well on this year’s best value schools for trade school students working on their associate degree. Intellitec College - Colorado Springs is a very small private for-profit school situated in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It awarded 72 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Intellitec College - Colorado Springs are $0 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $16,618 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 21 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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