I already talked to him about this but maybe someone else could use some info. My personal opinion is to avoid the Art Institute schools. Only because you can find bette rplaces for that kind of money. Find out if a local community college has a design program meet with people find out how it is. You can get some of the best training at a small school for almost no money. (financial aid) While you are there you will meet tons of amazing people, (hopefully) and start building the most valuable thing school gives you, a network of people. I met some of the best illsutrators i know at school. In my case i chose to go to school after the Community College and lots of people do, lots don't. See if your school has a good placement program or portfolio show at the end of the program. That's what will get your career started, the freelance world is so hard to break into, especially with the internet being such a depenadancy. Everyone is a "graphic designer" these days. Also, internships are as good as free school. You gain portfolio pieces, knowledge, contacts, real world experience. Hopefully your program requires a certain number of internship hours. So yeah, you don't have to go to the flashiest shcool to get the best edcuation. Do your research.
This is a list of AIGA acknowledged schools (GOOD ONES, haha):
http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/design%5Fschools