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2023 Most Popular Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which trade school program is right for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Most Popular Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 184 schools in the Rocky Mountains Region to see which 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.
Most Popular Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our analysis found Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Boulder to be the most popular school for trade school students in the Rocky Mountains Region . Boulder, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 3,638 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,155 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $156. During the early years of their career, Escoffier - Boulder graduates make an average of $26,698 annually. Around 69% of those degree recipients were women.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Mountainland Technical College is a great place for trade school students. Mountainland Technical College is a small public school located in Lehi, Utah that handed out 2,277 degrees in 2021-2022.
Once they receive their degree, Mountainland Technical College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $28,245 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Front Range Community College is a great place for trade school students. Westminster, Colorado is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 5,675 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,422 in student loans.After graduating from FRCC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,174 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 54% were women.
Out of the 184 schools in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Davis Technical College landed the # 4 spot on the list. Davis Technical College is a small public school located in Kaysville, Utah that handed out 1,523 degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, Davis Tech graduates make an average of $27,464 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
Out of the 184 schools in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Western Governors University landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 43,908 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from WGU accumulate an average of $14,535 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from WGU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $62,838 during the early years of their career. Around 69% of those degree recipients were women.
Pikes Peak Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. PPCC is a public institution located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3,050 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from PPCC accumulate an average of $11,839 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, PPCC graduates make an average of $31,856 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 56% were women.
Weber State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in Ogden, Utah, the large public school awarded 6,620 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,931 in student loans.After graduating from WSU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $46,655 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
Pueblo Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Pueblo, Colorado, and it awarded 2,592 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,809 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Pueblo Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,357 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 44% were women.
Red Rocks Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in Lakewood, Colorado, the medium-sized public school awarded 2,069 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,998 in student loans.After graduating from Red Rocks Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $53,516 during the early years of their career. Around 52% of those degree recipients were women.
Utah Valley University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #10 on the list. UVU is located in Orem, Utah and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 15,351 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $18,869 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, UVU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,719 during the early year of their career. Around 44% of those degree recipients were women.
Salt Lake Community College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, the large public school handed out 5,181 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $9,867 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Salt Lake Community College graduates make an average of $36,151 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 55% were women.
Lincoln College of Technology - Denver did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #12 on the list. Denver, Colorado is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 866 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $12,279 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $183 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Lincoln Tech - Denver graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,801 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 7% were women.
Aims Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Aims Community College is a public institution located in Greeley, Colorado. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,595 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $9,731 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Aims Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,230 during the early year of their career. Around 57% of those degree recipients were women.
Ogden-Weber Technical College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Ogden-Weber Technical College is a small public school located in Ogden, Utah that handed out 1,019 degrees in 2021-2022.
After graduating from Ogden-Weber Tech College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $29,478 during the early years of their career. Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.
Uintah Basin Technical College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. UBTech is a public institution located in Roosevelt, Utah. The school has a small population, and it awarded 668 degrees in 2021-2022.
Around 35% of those degree recipients were women.
Bridgerland Technical College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. This small public school is located in Logan, Utah, and it awarded 1,003 degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, Bridgerland ATC graduates make an average of $31,006 annually. Around 52% of those degree recipients were women.
College of Western Idaho landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Nampa, Idaho is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 2,595 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $10,190 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, CWI graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,051 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 55% were women.
Idaho State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #18 on the list. Pocatello, Idaho is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 2,795 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $34,709 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from ISU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,640 during the early years of their career. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
Emily Griffith Technical College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Emily Griffith is located in Denver, Colorado and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 609 degrees to qualified students.
After graduating from Emily Griffith, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $28,677 during the early years of their career. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
Wyotech-Laramie did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #20 on the list. Wyotech-Laramie is a very small private for-profit school located in Laramie, Wyoming that handed out 680 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $8,543 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $242, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Wyotech-Laramie graduates make an average of $34,062 annually. Around 5% of those degree recipients were women.
Concorde Career College - Aurora landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Concorde Career College - Aurora is a very small private for-profit school located in Aurora, Colorado that handed out 548 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,861 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $127 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Concorde Career College - Aurora graduates make an average of $43,549 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 87% were women.
Dixie Technical College ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Located in Saint George, Utah, the small public school awarded 690 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
After graduating from Dixie Tech, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $33,817 during the early years of their career. Around 40% of those degree recipients were women.
Colorado Mesa University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Colorado Mesa is a medium-sized public school situated in Grand Junction, Colorado. It awarded 1,939 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,449 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $208.After graduating from Colorado Mesa, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,493 during the early years of their career. Around 55% of those degree recipients were women.
Intellitec College - Grand Junction ranked #25 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Intellitec College - Grand Junction is a small private for-profit school located in Grand Junction, Colorado that handed out 656 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $11,427 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $71, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Intellitec College - Grand Junction graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $25,354 during the early year of their career. Around 69% of those degree recipients were women.
Rest of the Top 15% Most Popular Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region of the U.S.
Not only did these schools make the top 29 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
View Most Popular Trade School Schools Nationwide >
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our most popular trade school schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Pickens Technical College | Aurora, CO |
| 31 | Trinidad State Junior College | Trinidad, CO |
| 32 | Utah State University | Logan, UT |
| 33 | Southwest Technical College | Cedar City, UT |
| 34 | Community College of Denver | Denver, CO |
| 35 | College of Southern Idaho | Twin Falls, ID |
| 36 | Laramie County Community College | Cheyenne, WY |
| 37 | Northeastern Junior College | Sterling, CO |
| 37 | Metropolitan State University of Denver | Denver, CO |
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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