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2023 Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Colorado
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for trade school students. 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.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Trade College Search has created the Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Colorado to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 44 schools in Colorado to see which basic certificate programs were the most popular for trade school students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
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Most Popular Trade Basic Certificate Schools in Colorado
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our analysis found Front Range Community College to be the most popular school for trade school students who want to pursue a basic certificate in Colorado. FRCC is a fairly large public school situated in Westminster, Colorado. It awarded 3,473 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from Colorado who attend FRCC full time pay an average of $4,126 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $15,776. Around 49% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at FRCC. In fact, around 33% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Pikes Peak Community College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Colorado list. Colorado Springs, Colorado is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 1,253 students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Colorado pay an average of $4,065 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend PPCC. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,714. Around 47% of those degree recipients were women.
PPCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 51% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Red Rocks Community College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Colorado list. Lakewood, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 1,290 students in 2021-2022.
Students from Colorado who attend Red Rocks Community College full time pay an average of $4,471 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $16,135. Of those students who received their degree, 51% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Red Rocks Community College. In 2020-2021 about 51% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Pueblo Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Colorado list. Pueblo Community College is a public institution located in Pueblo, Colorado. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,815 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,626 in tuition and fees if they attend Pueblo Community College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $16,275. Around 33% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Pueblo Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 33% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Aims Community College is a great place for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Aims Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Greeley, Colorado. It awarded 819 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $2,954 in tuition and fees if they attend Aims Community College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,850. Around 57% of those degree recipients were women.
Online courses are available at Aims Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 44% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Colorado Mountain College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate trade school programs. Glenwood Springs, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 647 students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,980 in tuition and fees if they attend Colorado Mountain College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $11,820. Around 41% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that Colorado Mountain College does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 27% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #7, Emily Griffith Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Emily Griffith Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in Denver, Colorado that handed out 416 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Of those students who received their degree, 67% were women.
One thing to take note of is that Emily Griffith does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 0% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Lincoln College of Technology - Denver did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #8 on the list. Denver, Colorado is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out basic certificates to 311 students in 2021-2022.
Of those students who received their degree, 6% were women.
Trinidad State Junior College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Colorado ranking. This small public school is located in Trinidad, Colorado, and it awarded 339 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Colorado pay an average of $5,240 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Trinidad State Junior College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,360. Of those students who received their degree, 32% were women.
Trinidad State Junior College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 15% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Concorde Career College - Aurora came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Colorado ranking. Located in Aurora, Colorado, the very small private for-profit school awarded 280 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
Around 91% of those degree recipients were women.
Since Concorde Career College - Aurora 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 #11, Colorado Mesa University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Colorado Mesa is a medium-sized public school situated in Grand Junction, Colorado. It awarded 383 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $9,297 in tuition and fees if they attend Colorado Mesa full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $23,019. Of those students who received their degree, 51% were women.
One thing to take note of is that Colorado Mesa does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 43% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #12, Community College of Denver did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. This medium-sized public school is located in Denver, Colorado, and it awarded 408 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from Colorado who attend CCD full time pay an average of $4,586 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $16,235. Of those students who received their degree, 73% were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at CCD. In fact, around 59% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Northeastern Junior College ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Colorado list. Located in Sterling, Colorado, the small public school awarded 273 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Colorado pay an average of $5,345 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend NJC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,691. Around 16% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since NJC does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 30% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Technical College of the Rockies landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate trade school programs. Technical College of the Rockies is a very small public school situated in Delta, Colorado. It awarded 200 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Technical College of the Rockies. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 8% took at least some of their classes online.
Pickens Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #15 on the list. Pickens Technical College is a very small public school situated in Aurora, Colorado. It awarded 361 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from Colorado who attend Pickens Technical College full time pay an average of $4,930 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,830. Of those students who received their degree, 47% were women.
Intellitec College - Grand Junction did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #16 on the list. Intellitec College - Grand Junction is a private for-profit institution located in Grand Junction, Colorado. The school has a small population, and it awarded 180 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Of those students who received their degree, 77% were women.
Community College of Aurora came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Colorado ranking. Community College of Aurora is a medium-sized public school located in Aurora, Colorado that handed out 298 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Students from Colorado who attend CCA full time pay an average of $4,030 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $15,832. Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that CCA does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 22% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Aveda Institute - Denver came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Colorado ranking. Located in Denver, Colorado, the very small private for-profit school handed out 156 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
Around 95% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #19, Xenon International Academy-Denver did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Xenon International School of Hair Design is a very small private for-profit school situated in Aurora, Colorado. It awarded 127 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Of those students who received their degree, 98% were women.
Xenon International School of Hair Design is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
International Salon and Spa Academy came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Colorado ranking. International Salon and Spa Academy is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 89 basic certificates to qualified students.
Around 94% of those degree recipients were women.
Otero Junior College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate trade school programs. La Junta, Colorado is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 94 students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,226 in tuition and fees if they attend Otero JC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,730. Of those students who received their degree, 35% were women.
Otero JC 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. In fact, around 32% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #22, Stacey James Institute did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their basic certificate. Parker, Colorado is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out basic certificates to 66 students in 2021-2022.
Of those students who received their degree, 100% were women.
Pima Medical Institute - Colorado Springs came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Colorado ranking. PMI Colorado Springs is a very small private for-profit school situated in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It awarded 61 basic certificates in 2021-2022.
Of those students who received their degree, 90% were women.
One thing to take note of is that PMI Colorado Springs does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 13% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Pima Medical Institute - Colorado Springs
Colorado School of Healing Arts did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #24 on the list. Located in Lakewood, Colorado, the very small private for-profit school handed out 65 basic certificate awards in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend CSHA, expect to pay an average of $11,600 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Around 74% of those degree recipients were women.
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Boulder came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Colorado ranking. Escoffier - Boulder is located in Boulder, Colorado and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 76 basic certificates to qualified students.
Of those students who received their degree, 67% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Escoffier - Boulder. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 96% took at least some of their classes online.
Most Popular Trade School Basic Certificate Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
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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.