The reason I mention it is, I understand that there is now an A.S / B.S. program with Mountain State University, where ATP does the flight training for MSU students as they earn a degree concurrently.
But there's still the issue of finances. That's why I said what I did, about the program ---and the timing---being right or not. Honestly, it's difficult to build any career when one is young and has lots of responsibilities already.
From what I've read in Aviation Week & Space Technology, and other sources, the hiring picture in aviation is looking pretty good, and may remain so for some time. It's definitely a demanding field, but lots of other college degrees seem to lead to an employment outlook that's even less certain than aviation appears to be. Heck, freshly minted lawyers and nurses even are having a tough time of it.
Flight instructing is a tough row to hoe. The pay is simply not that good and one has to be very savvy about marketing oneself and building a business, not just showing up at the airport and hoping someone will walk in the door. There's lots of non-billable time, especially early on. And if you're with a flight school, you're depending on their marketing efforts and word of mouth reputation, so choose carefully.
If the OP can land a CFI job with ATP, he'll definitely do lots of flying, the retainer is reasonable, and he'd be building hours towards whatever could be next. ATP does extensive marketing. And there doesn't seem to be a shortage of students. They also do lots of instrument ratings, so unlike most FBOs (where student pilots working toward a PPL are the norm) he'd still fly if the weather is less than perfect. He'd also get to learn more about how a large flight school is run (and like what they do or not, their processes are really well thought out). I don't think any of those are bad things.
But whether any of this would work for him or not, only he can say.
