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Colorado School of Trades

#1886 in US ranking Lakewood, CO
Type:
Private for-profit
Programs:
2 to 4 years

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Cost

Tuition & fees
$32,150
Avg. aid
$6,300
Receiving aid
45%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
91%

Outcomes

Graduation rate
81%
Median salary
$35,624
1 yr after graduation

What are the graduation rates for students at Colorado School of Trades?

Colorado School of Trades' reported overall graduation rate is 81%, and its reported student retention rate is 93%. These measures answer different questions: graduation concerns completion within the applicable reporting period, while retention tracks whether students continue from one period to the next.

Graduation rates are based on defined student cohorts, not every person who has ever enrolled. They also do not measure job placement, licensing, or earnings. For a useful comparison with another trade school, applicants should check that both institutions are reporting comparable credentials, student groups, and completion periods.

What is the earning potential for graduates at Colorado School of Trades?

A gunsmithing credential does not come with a predictable salary. Earnings can differ substantially by employer, location, experience, type of work, and whether a graduate works for a business or independently.

Prospective students evaluating financial return should ask for clearly defined graduate-outcome disclosures: the class covered, the time since completion, the number of graduates included, and whether any earnings figure is a median or an average. Those details matter because a placement rate is not an earnings measure, and earnings among people who report employment may not represent an entire graduating class.

Colorado School of Trades Graduation Rate

Avg. graduation
81%

Colorado School of Trades Retention and Employment

First-year retention, full-time students
93%
Employed 1 year after graduation
93%

Colorado School of Trades Median Alumni Salary Over Time

1 year after graduation
$35,624
4 years after graduation
$44,828
5 years after graduation
$50,709
7 years after graduation
$51,194
10 years after starting college
$50,801

Data last updated on November 5, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

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