Since you’re still on the path to getting any sort of a pilot’s license, from personal experience, a University 141 school can be a really good option. Fairly high rigor, a regimented curriculum, and, generally a fairly deep instructor pool. Stand-alone 141s can be a lot sketchier. In either situations the stage checks are a great, no real jeopardy way, to figure out if you’re missing something, or just aren’t cutting the mustard.
Look closely at what the school flies, and take it into consideration.
I learned at the University of Illinois back in the 80’s, and really got my moneys worth (they flew beech sport 180’s as trainers back then which was comparable with local private instructors in terms of cost). I live in proximity to WMU which flies Cirrus aircraft with a quoted rate plus instructor of upwards of $300/hr. Many of the students defect while still in school to get their Private certificate from a local examiner, in a 150 or 172 simply due to cost.
Indiana state University might be worth a look, they fly almost exclusively diamonds, and I think a Saratoga for single commercial as well as a DA-60 for multi work. They seem to know what they’re doing…