Select a program of interest to explore trade schools that match your goals.
The best procurement and purchasing programs near Montrose, Colorado pair focused training with a state median wage of about $83,590 a year for buyers and purchasing agents (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most students finish a 6-to-12-month procurement certificate or a business or supply chain degree; the voluntary ISM CPSM credential can come later with experience.
Procurement and purchasing professionals source suppliers, negotiate contracts, issue purchase orders, and manage vendor performance. Training typically covers sourcing, negotiation, contract basics, and the ERP systems purchasing runs on.
| # | School | BOC Score (0–100) | Tuition | Median grad earnings (all majors) | Graduation rate | Online | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Navajo Technical University | 43.0 | Contact school for pricing | Not reported | 16% | Yes* | 193 mi |
| 2 | Community College of Denver | 37.0 | $4,902 - $19,550 | $53,984 | 18% | Yes* | 177 mi |
Schools closest to Montrose, Colorado are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from Montrose, Colorado is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.
This page lists 8 schools within 193 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 8 of them carry a score.
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.
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $48,380 |
| 25th | $60,800 |
| 50th (median) | $77,710 |
| 75th | $100,820 |
| 90th | $128,870 |
| Year | Employment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 522,200 |
| 2034 projected | 552,300 |
| Percent change | +5.8% |
Finish high school or earn a GED. Math, business, and computer coursework are useful preparation.
Complete procurement or supply chain training. Choose a procurement certificate (often 6-12 months) or a business or supply chain degree program covering sourcing, negotiation, and contract management.
Learn the systems. Purchasing runs on ERP software, spreadsheets, and contract documents; programs and entry roles build fluency in all three.
Gain purchasing experience. Purchasing assistant, expediter, inventory, and buyer trainee roles teach supplier management under experienced buyers.
Consider the ISM CPSM credential. With experience, the Certified Professional in Supply Management is a widely recognized voluntary mark for practitioners.
No license is required for purchasing work. The Institute for Supply Management’s CPSM is the field’s most recognized voluntary credential and expects professional experience before certification.
Common entry paths are a procurement or supply chain certificate, a business degree, or starting in purchasing support roles - assistant, expediter, inventory clerk - and advancing to buyer with experience.
Certificate programs in procurement and purchasing typically run 6 to 12 months. Many buyer roles prefer a bachelor's degree in business or supply chain, so some students continue into degree programs. Completion time depends on schedule and credential.
According to BLS OEWS (May 2025), buyers and purchasing agents in Colorado earned a median annual wage of about $83,590. Pay varies with experience, employer, and specialization. The 10th-to-90th percentile range was about $54,990 to $135,470 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The schools listed above are within driving distance of Montrose. Compare them by tuition, program length, BOC Score, and the credential each one awards.
No license is required for purchasing work. The Institute for Supply Management's CPSM is the field's most recognized voluntary credential and expects professional experience before certification.
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/.
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) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
