Vocational Trade Schools in Colorado

Located in Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College is the largest higher education institution in the Pikes Peak area. One of the top trade schools in Colorado, PPCC offers more than 150 degrees, including technical career education. PPCC's vocational programs include associate degrees and certificates in fields such as allied health, automotive collision repair, culinary arts, and dental assisting.

An associate of applied science in a trade or technical profession typically requires 60 credits and takes two years to complete. Instruction and coursework prepares students for jobs in their field. For instance, the AAS in automotive collision repair requires courses in metal welding and cutting, structural damage repair, and spray equipment operation.

Graduates are qualified for jobs in auto shops. PPCC boasts an 89% job placement rate. Some programs include an internship or apprenticeship component in addition to coursework.

Red Rocks Community College is part of the Colorado Community College system and maintains campuses in Lakewood and Arvada. RRCC offers associate degrees and certificates in several trades and technical disciplines, such as auto collision technology, building maintenance, computer information systems, and emergency medical services.

Most associate of applied science degrees require 60-63 credits and take two years to complete. Certificate programs require 10-40 credits. Associate degree students frequently earn a certificate in the process of earning their degree. For instance, an AAS in air conditioning, heating, and refrigeration requires 62 credits and students earn a certificate in refrigeration in the first 11 credits. Courses cover topics such as fundamentals of gas heating, piping skills, basic sheet metal, air conditioning systems, and mechanical codes.

Front Range Community College runs multiple campuses in cities throughout Colorado, including Westminster, Longmont, and Fort Collins. The school offers over 60 career programs and certificates in fields such as automation and engineering technology, criminal justice and public safety, medical assisting, and welding technology.

Most associate programs at FRCC require 60-63 credits and take two years to complete. For example, the associate of applied science in medical assisting degree requires 60 credits, including courses on medical record terminology, medical office administration, and pharmacology. FRCC offers apprenticeships in healthcare, manufacturing, and tree care.

Community College of Denver runs multiple campuses across the Denver metropolitan area. CCD shares facilities with two, four-year universities: the Metropolitan State University of Denver and the University of Colorado Denver. CCD offers over 100 degrees and certificate programs.

Students can choose from associate degrees in technical and trade fields such as applied technology, dental hygiene, electrical engineering, and veterinary technology. These associate of applied science degrees generally require 60 credits and take two years to complete. Certain programs may require an internship or apprenticeship.

CCD also offers certificate programs that focus on specific skills. Some certificates take as little as six credits and one semester to complete. For instance, students of engineering graphics and mechanical design can obtain short, one-semester certificates in solidworks and scanned input 3-D modeling.

Located in Littleton, Arapahoe Community College was the first community college to open in the Denver area. ACC offers a number of degree and certificate programs, including associate degrees and bachelor's degrees. The school's technical and vocational trade degrees cover fields such as construction management, health information technology, medical laboratory technology, and emergency service administration.

ACC also offers apprenticeship programs in community association management, medical assisting, property management, and water operation. An associate of applied science degree in a technical or trade field requires 60-90 credits. Learners can usually complete the degree in two years. ACC delivers some programs, particularly those with a lab or hands-on training component, in a hybrid format with online lectures but in-person lab sessions. ACC also offers several scholarships, grants, and work-study programs.

Aims Community College runs campuses in Greeley, Windsor, Fort Lupton, and Loveland. Aims offers over 200 degree and certificate programs, including vocational trade programs in paramedics, nursing, engineering technology, and fire science technology.

Many of the school's trades and technical profession programs prepare students to obtain official credentials. Learners can choose from several program options. The college's associate of applied science degrees require 50-65 credits and take two years to complete.

Students can complete certificates in 1-2 semesters. For instance, in emergency medical services, students can complete a 12-credit EMT certificate, a 13-credit AEMT certificate that includes a clinical internship, or a 51-credit associate degree in paramedics. All of these options prepare students to take the National Registry of Emergency Technicians exam. Tuition costs $106 per credit for in-state students and $425 per credit for out-of-state students.

With multiple campuses across western Colorado, Colorado Mountain College offers five bachelor's degrees, 54 associate degrees, and 77 certificate programs. CMC's associate and certificate programs include those in trade or technical professions, such as culinary arts, paramedics, fire science technology, and hospitality management.

CMC offers 60-credit, two-year associate of applied science technical or vocational degrees that prepare graduates to enter the job market. CMC's associate of applied science degrees also fulfill many of the requirements for a bachelor of applied science program in leadership and management. For students who wish to transfer credits into a bachelor's program at another school, CMC also offers an associate of arts program in many of the same fields.

To apply, prospective students should submit an online application, high school transcripts, and SAT/ACT scores. Tuition costs $185 per credit for in-state students and $466 per credit for out-of-state students.

Community College of Aurora is part of the Colorado Community College System and offers many vocational and technical career degrees in fields such as applied technology, computer information systems, cybersecurity, and patient care technology. These associate programs prepare students to obtain a job in their field upon graduation. Students can also easily transfer their degree to a public Colorado four-year university should they decide to pursue a bachelor's. CCA offers certificates focused on specific skills that learners can complete in one semester.

CCA's associate of applied science degrees require 60 credits and generally take two years to complete. Some allow for an accelerated completion of 12 months. Depending on the discipline, CCA may allow students to complete their coursework as part of an apprenticeship program. CCA partners with the Wagner Equipment Apprenticeship program in which students conduct rotations, spending 3-4 weeks in class and 3-4 weeks in shop at Wagner.

Pueblo Community College offers several vocational trade associate degrees and certificates in fields such as automotive service technology, criminal justice, culinary arts, and dental hygiene.

Students can choose from two-year associate of applied science degrees, certificate programs, and mini certificates. For instance, business management students can complete an AAS or a certificate in entrepreneurship, leadership studies, or bookkeeping. The associate of applied science degree requires 60 credits and focuses on preparing students for entry-level positions in marketing, management, sales, or other business professions.

PCC also offers some apprenticeship programs. For instance, the school's automotive service technology department offers a paid apprenticeship for high school students through Automotive Youth Educational Systems.

Tuition costs $153 per credit for state residents and $629 per credit for nonresidents. Tuition runs slightly higher for courses in nursing and dental hygiene.

Colorado Mesa University is a public university in Grand Junction that awards technical certificates, associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, and master's degrees. CMU offers trade and technical programs in fields such as aviation technology, hospitality management, mechatronics, and transportation services.

CMU partners with Western Colorado Community College to offer several joint programs. For instance, the associate of applied science in criminal justice is based on completing the police academy program at Western Colorado Community College and integrates instruction from the Peace Officer Standards and Training program. CMU also offers unique internship opportunities. Hotel Maverick, a newly opened boutique hotel, sits on the CMU campus and provides hands-on training opportunities for students in hospitality management and culinary arts.

Tuition costs $620 per credit for Colorado residents and $1,544 per credit for nonresidents.