Howdy!
Been out of touch for a bit... The breakdown:
The Chief CFI's time, 90 hours, aircraft rental of 60 hours, checkride; and pilot supplies including books, headset, flight bag, case, charts, and so on:
90 hours * $100 = $9000 (50 hours flight time, 40 hours ground instruction)
60 hours * $85 = $5100 (60 hours aircraft rental, less if flies more often, or $600 less in other aircraft)
$300 for checkride
$600 for the pilot supplies.
Total = $15,000
Use one of the other instructors, not the CCFI, and the other aircraft:
90 hours * $50 = $4500 (50 hours flight time, 40 hours ground instruction)
60 hours * $75 = $4500 (60 hours aircraft rental, less if flies more often)
$300 for checkride
$600 for the pilot supplies.
Total = $9,900
After this training, the IFR can take $8000 or more, depending the proficiency of the pilot and their private training.
It's difficult to explain the "why" behind the prices on-line or in phone conversations. This is a different kind of flight school. I know for a fact that the training I received through this school has saved the lives of three people, including mine, during a flight where there was very little time to think (measured in nanoseconds), and the first decision had to be the right decision.
Hope this helps.
Fly SAFE!
Jedi Nein