If a PPL is 6,000, then a commercial which is 30K includes PPL, Instrument, Commercial. I would want to know what those dollar amts are based on, however. for example 6k for exactly 40 hrs for private (the minimum required under 91) or 30K for 250hrs for commercial (the min under pt 91).
At the pvt level, you need 40 hrs for pt 91, or 35 for pt 141. Few get done in under 50 hrs usually. So if you like the people at the 91 school, they have good equipment and scheduling, you can go there.
However, if you want a degree, the community college route may be a great choice. In a CC you can get all the basic requirements out of the way for less AND under the current rules, graduating from an approved college curriculum also allows you to get an ATP with less than 1500 hrs. However, it must be a 4 yr program as I understand it. So you might have to transfer to another aviation approved college later. Although, it may be possible to get most of your ratings out of the way at the CC, especially the expensive stuff like instrument and multi-engine and thereby save money. Your local FSDO may be able to clarify this too.
Pt 91 commercial requires 250 hrs of flying time, pt 141 only 190, plus some other reductions in type of flying. It is more structured and sometimes inflexible, especially if you have a new instructor who doesn't know how to work in what you need help on regardless of the syllabus. A classic example, was that under 141 Jepessen syllabus, we had to train students in short field landings after they completed the solo phase. Well, if this period was in March, and the winds were howling, training SF was useless, because it requires precise speed and pitch control which is impossible in gusting winds. So I would introduce the student to a short field AFTER having him practice some cross country navigation. That would be a way to teach under those conditions. One hour is not too far to drive for a good educational experience. Plenty of people drive to work that far everyday. Also, you will spend several hrs there, so 2/12 isn't that bad.