I go to ASU's main campus in tempe. I too was originally interested in asu's aviation program at the polytech campus however I decided not to do it. For one thing, its about $60,000 alone for the flight training, not including tuition. Also, not that it necessarily matters as much to you because you are older, but the polytech campus sucks: its out in the middle of the desert and is nothing like the main Tempe campus. Maybe most importantly, Mesa Airlines sucks!!!! Read these boards. I know a couple guys in the program who think they are hot sh#t because they are going to be mesa pilots, but they freeze up when you ask them how they are going to survive on mesa pay. I am doing currently flying out of Chandler Air Service and have been very happy so far with the experience. The rates are decent and the instructors seem to really push fundamental stick and rudder skills probably as a result of the large amount of aerobatic instruction they do there. I cant really knock the actual training program that MPD does because I havent done it, but like I said its expensive, mesa sucks, polytech campus sucks, and flying those flashy $20 million dollar crj simulators they have supposedly dont really set you apart during an interview at a regional( not to mention that with the low hours that these guys have a graduation, probably the only place that will hire them is mesa).

I basically believe what my first instructor did and firmly preached:

*Go to an inexpensive state school and get a degree in something OUTSIDE of aviation.
*Go to the local fbo and find good instructors to get your ratings.
*Flight instruct for a year or so.
*Get enough hours to apply for a "GOOD" regional.

That said, my instructor is a captain and check airmen for Skywest( arguably one of the best regionals) flying the brasilia. He is 27 years old and I dont believe he has any debt. Im sure he isnt living luxuriously, but he's not doin too bad for an airline pilot his age.