by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Associate Degree Colleges in Colorado ranking is part of that endeavor.
What's on This Page: * Our Methodology
We analyzed 19 colleges and universities across Colorado to determine which ones have the best associate degree programs. Our ranking methodology focuses on different objective factors to make this determination of the best schools. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of associate graduates during the early years of their career. A associate degree holder from a school in Colorado makes an average starting salary of $37,095, but the students who attended schools in the top 17 of our list make an average of $39,010.
Students may also take on a lot of debt while working on their associate so we factor that into our rankings as well. When attending a school in Colorado, associate degree students accumulate an average of $24,621 in student debt before graduation. We consider this number in conjunction with average post-graduation earnings to gauge the difficulty associate recipients will have paying back their loans.
In addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt loads, we also look at a host of other factors to determining our Best Associate Degree Schools ranking. These factors include things like the educational resources, the demand associated with the school, whether or not the school offers online classes, and the student body caliber - just to name a few.
Find out more about our best schools ranking methodology
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Colorado Christian University tops this year’s ranking as the best school for associate degrees in Colorado for overall quality. CCU is located in Lakewood, Colorado and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 209 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $35,778.
The excellent associate degree programs at Front Range Community College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Colorado. Located in Westminster, Colorado, the fairly large public school handed out 1,857 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from FRCC make an average of $37,072 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $22,184.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Community College of Aurora. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Colorado list. Aurora, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 536 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from CCA go into careers with an average salary of $39,128 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $13,250.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Aims Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Colorado list. Greeley, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 668 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Aims Community College is $36,126 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $13,642.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Community College of Denver. The school came in at #5 in Colorado on this year’s best associate degree schools ranking. CCD is located in Denver, Colorado and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 717 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a associate degree from CCD make an average of $44,526 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $21,123 after getting their degree.
Otero Junior College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Colorado list. Located in La Junta, Colorado, the small public school handed out 197 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $47,585 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $20,850 in student loans.
Pikes Peak Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Colorado ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and it awarded 1,741 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from PPCC is $31,856 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $17,238 in student loans.
Colorado Mountain College landed the #8 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Colorado ranking. Located in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, the medium-sized public school awarded 545 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Colorado Mountain College is $26,331 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $11,349 in student loans.
Adams State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Colorado list. Adams State is a small public school situated in Alamosa, Colorado. It awarded 222 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Morgan Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Colorado ranking. Morgan Community College is located in Fort Morgan, Colorado and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 128 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $42,671 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $12,462 in student loans.
With a ranking of #11, Pueblo Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Colorado list. Pueblo, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 734 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Pueblo Community College make an average of $39,868 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $16,592 after getting their degree.
Trinidad State Junior College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Colorado list. Trinidad State Junior College is a small public school situated in Trinidad, Colorado. It awarded 222 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Trinidad State Junior College make an average of $40,266 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $17,427 in student loans.
Red Rocks Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Colorado list. Located in Lakewood, Colorado, the medium-sized public school awarded 627 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Red Rocks Community College go into careers with an average salary of $51,088 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $14,125.
Arapahoe Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Colorado ranking, coming in at #14. Arapahoe Community College is a public institution located in Littleton, Colorado. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 581 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $39,369 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $19,894 in student loans.
Colorado Mesa University landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Colorado ranking. Colorado Mesa is located in Grand Junction, Colorado and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 169 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a associate degree from Colorado Mesa go into careers with an average salary of $38,273 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $21,828.
Colorado Northwestern Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Colorado list. Rangely, Colorado is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 110 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from CNCC go into careers with an average salary of $45,648 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $16,167 after getting their degree.
Northeastern Junior College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Colorado ranking. Sterling, Colorado is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 249 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from NJC make an average of $36,875 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $16,850.
Lamar Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Colorado list. LCC is a public institution located in Lamar, Colorado. The school has a small population, and it awarded 123 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from LCC make an average of $35,899 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $18,850 in student loans.
With a ranking of #19, Intellitec College - Colorado Springs did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Colorado list. Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the small private for-profit school handed out 134 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $30,597 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $19,011.
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More about our data sources and methodologies.
