OK, so we decided to cancel the in-person interview at LIFT for now (and the flight to get there) and get cost estimates again from some other training centers. We'll try American Flyers, ATP, and some others.
The note that kind of was an "ah ha" moment was the possibility of a signing bonus if she goes to a regional after getting the ratings on her own. Essentially taking $10K-$20K off of any existing flight training debt.
So even if the training comes in at the same cost of LIFT, it is a better deal to do it alone.
To be clear, she needs to finish up instrument (close), then get commercial, ME/ME instrument, CFI, CFII, CFME. The 400TT that she has in power is quality stick and rudder skills time but mostly not XC time (a lot of glider towing in L-19 Birddog, Piper Pawnee, and SuperCub).
I am hoping to find a way for her to get through the ratings *relatively* affordably. Under $40k would be nice, but maybe a pipedream.