masters in music-cello performance

Hello! My daughter is going to be applying for graduate school (MM cello performance) and I am wondering if anyone has a a good search method for this process. I am sure her professor will help her out, but I am still curious. Plus, there are so many programs! She is not shooting for the very top conservatories that most people on CC write about, but certainly a very strong program with a thriving cello studio (and not too cutthroat in vibe!). Any ideas for how your kids figured out where to apply? On her radar so far: U-Colorado Boulder, DePaul and Northwestern, and San Francisco Conservatory. Thank you!