Colorado’s economy is booming in construction, clean energy, healthcare, and skilled manufacturing - and trade schools are at the center of it all. Whether you’re in Denver, the Front Range, or Western Slope, accredited vocational schools offer a accelerated to high-paying, hands-on careers.
Many Colorado trade schools collaborate with employers and unions to help students earn certifications and pursue jobs, timelines and outcomes vary by location and job market.
Best Trade Schools In Colorado
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 10 schools,
ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top.
10 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
Emily Griffith Technical College in Denver is highly respected for its HVAC, welding, and culinary programs. Red Rocks Community College is excellent for water tech and electrician training. Pickens Tech offers great hands-on programs in automotive and construction.
Are Colorado community colleges considered trade schools?
Yes - schools like Aims, Red Rocks, and Pueblo CC offer accredited, hands-on career training and often partner with employers for job placement.
What trades are in demand in Colorado in 2025?
According to the Colorado Department of Labor and BLS:
Electricians
HVAC technicians
Welders
Plumbers
Medical assistants
Diesel techs
Water treatment operators
Colorado’s trade schools are training the next generation of skilled workers. Whether you’re going green with solar or hands-on in the trades, the path to a reliable, high-paying career is just a certification away.
Trade Schools by City in Colorado
Compare accredited trade schools in 51 Colorado cities. Each city page lists the closest local schools with tuition, median graduate earnings, and the trades hiring nearby.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
Data
Provider
Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
