I am still monitoring this thread, and thank you for your insight.
After showing him this thread, speaking with a couple of pilots, and lots of discussion, he's decided to attend TCC and get his associates degree in their professional pilot program, and start flight lessons at the same time. Once he completes his AD, he'll move on to a university (probably OSU) and complete his BS in engineering . By the time he's ready, surely this whole covid mess will be in the past.
Now the only question, where he should take flight lessons?
The ground school training and testing, as well as flight lessons will be built into the curriculum at TCC. They'll also arrange for DPE's for any required testing. If you're looking for a discovery flight, there are several options at RVS.
If he’s doing the professional pilot program at TCC, do they not have an agreement with a flight school or even have their own airplanes?
TCC is a certificated program with their own planes.