Colorado School of Trades is a private for-profit institution offering associate degrees based in Lakewood, Colorado. It enrolls 85 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorAccrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges
Academic CalendarContinuous
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
69/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes93
Value27
Affordability22
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 90.9%, Colorado School of Trades is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
90.9%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Colorado School of Trades is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
23.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Colorado School of Trades isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $26,083 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private for-profit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$26,083
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
28%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
32%
Borrowing to attend
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,92910%percentile
$8,00025%percentile
$20,000Medianpercentile
$20,00075%percentile
$20,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,734
↓ $266
No Pell $12,000
↓ $8,000
Dependent students $12,000
↓ $8,000
Independent students $20,000
—
What this means:
28% of students receive Pell grants. Most cost is borne by families above Pell thresholds. Verify your individual aid offer before deciding.
Graduation Rate & Retention
84% of full-time students who enrolled at Colorado School of Trades graduate within six years, and 88% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
84%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
88%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Colorado School of Trades earn a median of $51,591 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$51,591
Earning > $25K
76%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
16.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 70% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Colorado School of Trades is home to 85 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 32% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
85
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
32%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 74.1%63
Hispanic 11.8%10
Asian 3.5%3
Other 2.4%2
Black 1.2%1
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Colorado School of Trades. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbLakewood, Colorado
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
44%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Continuousscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Colorado School of Trades offers
a focused set of programs:
1 distinct programs across
1 major.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Colorado School of Trades is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$34,468
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Pros & Cons of Colorado School of Trades
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Colorado School of Trades tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
For-profit institution, verify accreditation and outcomes carefully
Best for:
Based on the data, Colorado School of Trades is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Colorado School of Trades
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Colorado School of Trades.
Is Colorado School of Trades hard to get into?
Colorado School of Trades has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 90.9%.
What is the acceptance rate at Colorado School of Trades?
Colorado School of Trades has an acceptance rate of 90.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Colorado School of Trades cost?
The average net price after aid at Colorado School of Trades is $26,083 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Colorado School of Trades worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $51,591 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $26,083 per year. That's roughly 2.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Colorado School of Trades known for?
Colorado School of Trades is best known for its programs in Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Colorado School of Trades graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Colorado School of Trades are $51,591, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Colorado School of Trades accredited?
Yes. Colorado School of Trades is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
How many students attend Colorado School of Trades?
Colorado School of Trades enrolls 85 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Colorado School of Trades?
Colorado School of Trades graduates 84% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Colorado School of Trades a public or private college?
Colorado School of Trades is a Private For-Profit institution.
Where is Colorado School of Trades located?
Colorado School of Trades is located in Lakewood, Colorado.
What programs does Colorado School of Trades offer?
Colorado School of Trades offers 1 distinct programs. The most popular include Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Colorado School of Trades?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Colorado School of Trades is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Colorado
Other colleges in Colorado share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Vehicle Maintenance
Cosmetology
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
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