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.
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Most Popular Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Boulder the most popular school in the Rocky Mountains Region for trade school students working on their degree. 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.
On average, students take out $12,155 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $156 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Escoffier - Boulder, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $26,698 during the early years of their career. Around 69% of those degree recipients were women.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Mountainland Technical College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Mountainland Technical College is a small public school located in Lehi, Utah that handed out 2,277 degrees in 2021-2022.
After graduating from Mountainland Technical College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $28,245 during the early years of their career. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Front Range Community College is a great place for trade school students. Located in Westminster, Colorado, the fairly large public school awarded 5,675 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $15,422 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from FRCC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,174 during the early years of their career. Around 54% of those degree recipients were women.
The programs at Davis Technical College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in the Rocky Mountains Region . Located in Kaysville, Utah, the small public school 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. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Western Governors University is a great place for trade school students. WGU is located in Salt Lake City, Utah and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 43,908 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $14,535 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, WGU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $62,838 during the early year 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. Colorado Springs, Colorado is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 3,050 students 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. Around 56% of those degree recipients 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. WSU is located in Ogden, Utah and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 6,620 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from WSU accumulate an average of $20,931 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.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 landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Pueblo Community College is a public institution located in Pueblo, Colorado. The school has a medium-sized population, 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 landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Red Rocks Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Lakewood, Colorado. It awarded 2,069 degrees 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. Once they receive their degree, Red Rocks Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $53,516 during the early year of their career. Around 52% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #10, Utah Valley University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. UVU is a public institution located in Orem, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 15,351 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from UVU accumulate an average of $18,869 in student debt by the time they complete 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 ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Salt Lake Community College is located in Salt Lake City, Utah and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 5,181 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $9,867 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Salt Lake Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,151 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 55% were women.
Lincoln College of Technology - Denver came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Lincoln Tech - Denver is a private for-profit institution located in Denver, Colorado. The school has a small population, and it awarded 866 degrees 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. Around 7% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #13, Aims Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular 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.
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. Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
With a ranking of #14, Ogden-Weber Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. This small public school is located in Ogden, Utah, and it awarded 1,019 degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, Ogden-Weber Tech College graduates make an average of $29,478 annually. 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. Roosevelt, Utah is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 668 students in 2021-2022.
Around 35% of those degree recipients were women.
Bridgerland Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #16 on the list. 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. Of those students who received their degree, 52% 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.
Degree recipients from CWI accumulate an average of $10,190 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, CWI graduates make an average of $38,051 annually. Around 55% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #18, Idaho State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Idaho State University is a fairly large public school located in Pocatello, Idaho that handed out 2,795 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $34,709 in student loans. During the early years of their career, ISU graduates make an average of $44,640 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
Emily Griffith Technical College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Located in Denver, Colorado, the medium-sized public school awarded 609 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Once they receive their degree, Emily Griffith graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $28,677 during the early year of their career. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #20, Wyotech-Laramie did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. 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. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $242.After graduating from Wyotech-Laramie, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,062 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 5% were women.
Concorde Career College - Aurora landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. This very small private for-profit school is located in Aurora, Colorado, and it awarded 548 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $15,861 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $127, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Concorde Career College - Aurora, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,549 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 87% were women.
Dixie Technical College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Saint George, Utah is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 690 students in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, Dixie Tech graduates make an average of $33,817 annually. Around 40% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #24, Colorado Mesa University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Located in Grand Junction, Colorado, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,939 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $21,449 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $208 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Colorado Mesa graduates make an average of $38,493 annually. Around 55% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #25, Intellitec College - Grand Junction did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Intellitec College - Grand Junction is located in Grand Junction, Colorado and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 656 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from Intellitec College - Grand Junction accumulate an average of $11,427 in student debt by the time they complete 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. During the early years of their career, Intellitec College - Grand Junction graduates make an average of $25,354 annually. 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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