Took 8 classes at Lassen NRA summer school and when I went full time, attended Trinidad State.
Trinidad State assumes you know nothing and starts you from the ground up to build a custom rifle. You remove the barrel of a Mauser and then rebarrel it. You customize the action (forge bend the bolt or cut off the bolt handle and weld a new one of your design on, install a swing type safety, fabricate a new floor plate release, mill the trigger guard, stone and install a Timney Trigger (Timney hates TSJC for that) and then by the third semester, build a stock for it (so you learn to use a stock duplicator to make a stock from a blank and then final inletting and shaping). By the fourth semester, you build another rifle on your own.
First semster classes include Intro to Firearms (designs, operation, evolution, theory), machine shop (intro to lathe and you make tools you'll use later on in the program), TIG welding. Another major first semester class is bench metal. You learn to do simple things all gunsmiths should know. File, saw, polish, solder, braze as well as make a "V" spring from flat spring stock, browning, forging & tempering, tool making (you make tools you'll use later in the program), color case hardening, inletting (intro actually) when you assemble a Traditions Trapper pistol. It's not building the Trapper but the lessons you learn while building it.
The second semester has metal finish (bluing and parkerizing), more machine shop, inletting (discussed above), conversions (also discussed above).
There are two semesters of repair where you are introduced to some very common firearms and taught to trouble shoot them. It is impossible to teach the student about every single design, but they give you the basics so you can diagnose and repair firearms. Sometimes where parts were unavailable we had to make parts. Sometimes worn parts were welded up, re-machined (and filed) so as to restore it to working conditions. Sometimes we had to make coil springs or other odd shaped springs (they teach you).
Electives include classes on working on pistols, revolvers, double gun,
shotgun, alternative finishes (nickel, cerakote). I didn't take revolvers because I already knew how to install a new barrel and took several revolver classes at Lassen. Besides, in the repair class I got to fix both S&W type revolvers as well as an older Colt (Python type action).
They do have dormitories, but I would elect to rent a house instead. Students at the dorms put up with more azz-hattery and noise and are required to buy the meal plan. When they say the food is an unique dining experience, they are't kidding. I'll take bread and butter first.
TSJC has an excellent library too. I learned things there are obscure or forgotten. For instant, we all know that in WW I the Germans mustered 20k scoped rifles from civilian hands but did you know most of them were unsuitable for military service? Their actions could not handle the German army ammunition.
Summer schools classes are worth attending. They bring in guest instructors who are outstanding in their field. I took Bill Laughridge (Cylinder & Slide) for semi-automatic pistol (it was better than the class I took at Lassen). I had both Hugh Toejnes (sp) and Jack Brooks for Relief Carving. Clayton Neslon teaches custom stockmaking (but you want to also learn from the regular instructor, G. Morovits). Now they also have someone who has experimented for years on color case hardening (very scientific approach). The fellow who teaches double gun has a cult following. You can also get your NRA instructor certification there (Range safety officer, chief range safety officer, handgun, rifle, shotgun, personal protection inside the home and personal protection outside the home, muzzleloading, etc). It's not just firearms but they also offer hatmaking, spur making and other craft related courses at TSJC.
The school also has its own range, Prator Range, which is just a few miles outside of town. It offers trap, skeet, rifle and handgun facilities and the recent introduction of dirt filled Hesco (steel gabions) baskets makes Prator more versatile. Get bored with 100 yards? Go to nearby Whittington (1/2 hour away in Raton, New Mexico) and shoot steel silhouette out to 1,000 yards. I hit the life size steel White Buffalo at 1123 yards and coached many kids to do the same (easy once the rifle is sighted in). Whittington also has a nice museum which they plan to expand three fold.
They also have fishing here.
Nearby historic sites include Bent's Old Fort (part of the National Park Service) which is slightly over one hour to the east by La Junta, CO. Francisco's Fort (La Veta, CO) is an old trading post with adobe walls (I did conservation work on their firearms), St. James Hotel (Cimmaron, New Mexico) where all the famous cowboys and outlaws ate, Taos, Fort Garland (about 2 hours) army post where Kit Carson once commanded.