Colorado School of Trades

"If they kick you out at the end of a semester, they'll sign you up for another one and extort money from you and not a little multiple thousand"

"I graduated last year from the school the attitudes of the instructors are so negative and very hostile for no reason that it's hard to ignore. They gosap openly about the very students they teach. I talked with the owner about the problem, and he said he would fix it only 2 weeks after I left. One instructor was fired for sexual comments towards a student. Some of the students are not mentally there themselves many coming in with extreme veiws flying communist material in the school leading to hostel encounters. There were QR codes on work benches and bathrooms of Karl marks the communist manifesto. The owner doesn't care who comes to the school all are just seen as a truck payment. Also when you graduate the school gives you a 25 percent off brownells coupon to used online only to find out its not a real coupon when you call brownells. Unfortunately, the few good instructors can't hold up the bad ones If you want to go to a better, more respectful school, I would suggest trinidad state"

"Attended the school this year and the overall experience seems like a waste of 14 months of my GI Bill. You "learn" only to take a meaningless final that is just regurgitating information that may or may not have been brought up in lectures during your time in school. The instructors were okay with a few A+ teachers doing their best to make up for the lack of care that others had. Gossip about students and other staff was constant along with feuds between the two. From watching an instructor throw a tantrum over a firearm put together incorrectly to another instructor getting fired for inappropriate remarks towards students or the owner of the school thanking students for allowing him to buy a new truck things were off to say the least. Now not everything was bad as you will learn valuable skills but you will have to hope that more instructors are hired as the ones that they have are stretched thin. The schools cirriculum is outdated as you spend far more time in stock making than you do in things like CNC and welding. It is nice that they have it but the likely hood of you getting a job offer to make custom stocks over using CNC or welding skills is very slim. The professionalism, organization and tact is lacking across the board. A terrible situation regarding two students was brought up nonchalantly and little regard for the victim was given with an end of the day announcement and was just used as the final thing mentioned before being sent home. On a final note I did leave my project rifle after I graduated to be cerakoted by a fellow student. This led to no reply from the student or the school about the firearm and components being stolen. The school did replace the parts, however when I received the firearm it was not functioning. Test firing is a part of the grading process for the school and my rifle was never test fired after final assembly. I know it worked prior as it was my project rifle that I personally received a grade on so I don't know what happened to the standards at the school. I can not recommend this school in its current state even though there is a wealth of knowledge from some of the instructors. Veterans please put your GI Bill to use elsewhere and take this as a warning."

"The most phenomenal, educational and tailored School I've graduated from. The program does a stellar job of finding ways you learn, then structuring a path for you to develop these skills via the curriculum. You get what you put in, so make your time worthwhile. Staff is A+, administration assists and teaches the business side of Gunsmithing and the repairs department couldn't be a better team. Job placement is incredibly high. If you're a highly motivated individual who wants to take the extra mile, this is the school for you. Highly recommend!"

"As a former graduate and Staff member, I can say hands down this is one of the best schools to become a gunsmith in the United States. You will have more hands on application here then anywhere. The Staff members are not only instructors, but 98% of them have actual experience working in the industry prior to being hired. This school prides itself on the students it allows to graduate, and put into the work force. Additionally, they actually have a Placement Coordinator on staff to assist you with finding a job in whatever state you wish to reside. The School has connections with literally thousands of company's looking to hire, some will actually call the school. Not to mention their repair program. Local customers can bring their firearms in for repairs by senior students, thus allowing students the opportunity not only to work on unique firearms, but extremely technical repair requests. Since they are students repairing your firearm, you can't beat that price! Staff members are always professional and respectful of all students, and customers a like. I highly recommend anyone interested in becoming a gunsmith to check this place out!"