rabbo

I don't think he meant 30k+23k=53k. I am going down the same road right now, organizing prices and scheduling interviews and the highest cost I have received is about 39,000. Incidentally, 39,000 was the exact amount this [not PSA] airline was providing in RTP funds. Even going to a rather expensive local school, flying solo aside from my instruction, in nice, fairly new aircraft, would cost me about 42,000.

I don't know how much research you have done but consider that if you go somewhere like Skywarrior, once you are in the timebuilding phase, you will be partnered with another RTP candidate so that $150/hr wet 172 is actually costing you $75.

Another option you could pursue is a local flying club. One of them near me offers a Cessna 152 for 80/hr wet (with a large buy in and monthly fee) while another offers a 172 for 118/hr wet (no buy in and a very small monthly fee).

ZeroTT

If you need hundreds of hours, buy an old 150. $10-$15k and $20/hr for gas. Resell for essentially what you paid.