Not to hijack the thread, or put down your friends daughter, but why the heck does a four year university have a dance program? Is that something that should require a four year degree. This everyone must go to college mindset is what is causing the price rise.
I guess it's because dance is an Art. Universities have programs in Arts, like painting, sculpture, piano performance, etc.
There are other ways to pursue a career in ballet, but, given how few dancers at the high school level end up as professionals, the advantage of starting a university program is that the rest of the curriculum is there, too.
It's a lot like sports. Most college football (baseball, basketball) players don't make it to the pros, but they have the opportunity to learn a real marketable skill, at least.
Neither my friend nor I think her daughter has a real shot at a pro dance career. We hope she'll find an academic (business, technical) subject at college that she really loves. She's a very good student overall.