Colorado School of Trades

Colorado School of Trades is a private for-profit two-year institution located in Lakewood, Colorado, in a large suburban setting within the Denver metropolitan area. The school is nationally recognized for its specialized focus on gunsmithing education.

With a total enrollment of 195 students (IPEDS 2023), the Colorado School of Trades maintains a completion rate of 82% and a retention rate of 83% (IPEDS 2023). It holds an overall quality score of 63.67 out of 100. The school offers a focused Gunsmithing program at the two-to-four-year certificate level, providing in-depth training in firearm design, repair, and customization.

As one of few dedicated gunsmithing schools in the United States, the Colorado School of Trades serves a niche market of students interested in this specialized trade. The Lakewood campus provides access to the outdoor recreation and firearms industries prominent in the Rocky Mountain region. Students receive concentrated, hands-on training that prepares them for careers as gunsmiths, firearms technicians, or small business owners in the firearms services industry.