Trinidad State College
Trinidad, CO 81082
About Trinidad State College
Trinidad State College is a public certificate and vocational school in Trinidad, Colorado, enrolling about 1,188 students. Programs focus on certificates and workforce credentials that prepare students for skilled trades and technical careers. Typical net price after grant aid is about $10,772 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $4,608. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $36,475 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Trinidad State College charges 16% below the national public median tuition ($4,608).
- Versus the Colorado median, sticker tuition is about 0.5×.
- Average net price runs below the Colorado median net price.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 54.50%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $36,475.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Trinidad State College is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 747% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trinidad State College | $4,608 | $10,772 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| Colorado (state median) | $9,958 | $12,045 | 43 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Trinidad State College really?
Key findings
- Trinidad State College charges 16% below the national public median tuition ($4,608).
- Versus the Colorado median, sticker tuition is about 0.5×.
- Average net price runs below the Colorado median net price.
Trinidad State College tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $4,608
Finding Trinidad State College charges 16% below the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $4,608. That is 16% below the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Colorado median ($9,958), sticker tuition is about 0.5×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 0.4×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Trinidad State College versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Trinidad State College versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Trinidad State College is $10,772.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $10,772 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $1,273 below the Colorado median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $4,199 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Trinidad State College, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Trinidad State College: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Trinidad State College—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$4,608
Out-of-state tuition
$7,318
Avg. net price
$10,772
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $9,366 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $10,284 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $10,379 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $14,945 |
| $110,001+ | $18,413 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $18,432. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Trinidad State College is known for
Top program completions
- Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician126
- Lineworker117
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies77
- Science Technologies/Technicians, Other66
- Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General60
See earnings & programs for more.
Is Trinidad State College a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Trinidad State College is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Trinidad State College.
Campus
Location
Trinidad, CO
City / state
- ZIP
- 81082
- NCES locale
- Town remote
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 28% below the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Rocky Mountains
- Carnegie
- Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional
Size
Enrollment
1,188
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 2,373
- Full-time share
- 50%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$8,908
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 45.35%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Trinidad State College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Trinidad State College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Trinidad State College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $4,167 | $7,285 | $10,875 |
| 2014 | $4,171 | $7,127 | $10,072 |
| 2015 | $4,530 | $7,318 | $10,280 |
| 2016 | $4,723 | $7,648 | $11,091 |
| 2017 | $5,027 | $7,918 | $11,881 |
| 2018 | $5,160 | $8,162 | $10,806 |
| 2019 | $5,121 | $8,100 | $10,544 |
| 2020 | $5,299 | $8,368 | $10,667 |
| 2021 | $5,279 | $8,648 | $11,909 |
| 2022 | $5,194 | $8,314 | $11,985 |
| 2023 | $4,468 | $7,100 | $11,197 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Trinidad State College reported total enrollment of about 1,188 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 49% male and 51% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (43.5%), White (33.2%), and Black or African American (9.4%). About 45.35% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 55.7% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
50.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Trinidad State College in 2024 is 1,188 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 2,373 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
63.8%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
0.00% 100% Completion Time
54.50% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 0.00% of students graduating from Trinidad State College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician: 85% male / 15% female
- Lineworker: 95% male / 5% female
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 57% male / 43% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Trinidad State College graduates earn a median of $36,475 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Trinidad State College.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $36,475. Median federal loan debt: $8,908. Average net price used in cost models: $10,772.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Trinidad State College graduates report median earnings of $36,475 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Trinidad State College.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (35 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Trinidad State College.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Trinidad State College graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Trinidad State College—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$6.5M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Colorado median 0.41× the median ($15.8M)
- Rocky Mountains median 0.33× the median ($19.5M)
- U.S. median 0.24× the median ($26.4M)
- Colorado median near the median ($5,882)
- Rocky Mountains median 0.57× the median ($10,274)
- U.S. median 0.49× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- Colorado median 32.1 pp above median (67.9%)
- Rocky Mountains median 26.7 pp above median (73.3%)
- U.S. median 42.0 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $6,277
- Colorado median 0.86× the median ($7,318)
- Rocky Mountains median 0.84× the median ($7,458)
- U.S. median 0.82× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $7,846
- Colorado median 1.2× the median ($6,731)
- Rocky Mountains median 1.1× the median ($6,852)
- U.S. median 1.1× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Trinidad State College at a glance
Trinidad State College
Trinidad State College is a public institution in Trinidad, CO, classified as Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/TechnicianLineworkerLiberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
- Largest enrollment groups
- Hispanic or Latino43.5%White or Caucasian33.2%Black or African American9.4%
Schools near Trinidad State College
Other campuses in Trinidad, CO when available, plus nearby institutions in Colorado.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade D) within Colorado, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Trinidad State College located?
Trinidad State College is located in Trinidad, CO.
What is Trinidad State College's tuition?
Trinidad State College tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $4,608 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $10,772 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Trinidad State College cost?
Reported tuition is $4,608 and average net price is $10,772 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $9,693 annually.
What explains Trinidad State College's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($10,772), completion (54.5% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($36,475). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Trinidad State College?
Trinidad State College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 2,373 students, Hispanic or Latino (43.5%), White (33.2%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Trinidad State College?
About 55.7% of students at Trinidad State College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Trinidad State College earn?
Median earnings are $36,025 six years after entry and $36,475 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Trinidad State College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 54.5% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Trinidad State College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $8,908.
Is Trinidad State College public or private?
Trinidad State College is a public institution located in Trinidad, CO.
Is Trinidad State College an HBCU?
No. Trinidad State College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Trinidad State College a tribal college?
No. Trinidad State College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.