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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.
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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 analysis found Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Boulder to be the most popular school for trade school students in the Rocky Mountains Region . Escoffier - Boulder is a private for-profit institution located in Boulder, Colorado. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 3,638 degrees 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. 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. 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 public institution located in Lehi, Utah. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2,277 degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, Mountainland Technical College graduates make an average of $28,245 annually. 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. This fairly large public school is located in Westminster, Colorado, and it awarded 5,675 degrees 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. Of those students who received their degree, 54% were women.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Davis Technical College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region 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.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Western Governors University is a great place for trade school students. Salt Lake City, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 43,908 students in 2021-2022.
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. Of those students who received their degree, 69% were women.
Pikes Peak Community College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the fairly large public school awarded 3,050 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $11,839 in loans while pursuing 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.
On average, students take out $20,931 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, WSU graduates make an average of $46,655 annually. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #8, Pueblo 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 Pueblo, Colorado, and it awarded 2,592 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $11,809 in loans while pursuing their degree. 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. Around 44% of those degree recipients were women.
Red Rocks Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Red Rocks Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Lakewood, Colorado that handed out 2,069 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Red Rocks Community College accumulate an average of $29,998 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. 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.
Utah Valley University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Utah Valley University is a large public school located in Orem, Utah that handed out 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. During the early years of their career, UVU graduates make an average of $43,719 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 44% 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 a large public school located in Salt Lake City, Utah that handed out 5,181 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,867 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Salt Lake Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,151 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 55% were women.
Lincoln College of Technology - Denver ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Lincoln Tech - Denver is located in Denver, Colorado and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 866 degrees to qualified students.
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. During the early years of their career, Lincoln Tech - Denver graduates make an average of $36,801 annually. Around 7% of those degree recipients were women.
Aims Community College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Aims Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Greeley, Colorado. It awarded 1,595 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,731 in student loans.After graduating from Aims Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,230 during the early years of their career. Around 57% of those degree recipients were women.
Ogden-Weber Technical College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. 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 located in Roosevelt, Utah and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 668 degrees to qualified students.
Of those students who received their degree, 35% 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. Bridgerland ATC is a small public school situated in Logan, Utah. 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 did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #17 on the list. CWI is a public institution located in Nampa, Idaho. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2,595 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,190 in student loans. During the early years of their career, CWI graduates make an average of $38,051 annually. Around 55% of those degree recipients were women.
Idaho State University landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. 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.
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.
With a ranking of #19, Emily Griffith Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Denver, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 609 students in 2021-2022.
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 came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Wyotech-Laramie is located in Laramie, Wyoming and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 680 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $8,543 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $242. Once they receive their degree, Wyotech-Laramie graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $34,062 during the early year of their career. Around 5% of those degree recipients were women.
Concorde Career College - Aurora ranked #21 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. 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. 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. Around 87% of those degree recipients were women.
Dixie Technical College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Dixie Tech is located in Saint George, Utah and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 690 degrees to qualified students.
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. Of those students who received their degree, 40% were women.
Colorado Mesa University landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Grand Junction, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,939 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Colorado Mesa accumulate an average of $21,449 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $208, assuming you 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. Grand Junction, Colorado is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 656 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $11,427 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $71. 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.