I get it. It is nice to know there are options such as VP/Masters, Music ED etc. Finding the right fit with respect to teachers and school as well as passing auditions. So many more apply than are available spots. That is another thing one might find the right fit and teacher and then not get accepted. Many hurdles to navigate as a music major.
My D started out at UMich in what they call a VP with Teacher Certification (Voice Performance B) major - some things that were different about it from Voice Performance A (the typical VP route) is that for VP B, she only took one diction class, instead of 3 - one each in French, German and Italian - and no languages. In regular VP, she would need all 3 languages and 3 diction classes. That’s just one example of the differences. There are VP MM programs that require you to take all 3 languages as an undergrad, so if she goes that route, she will need to consider adding those on if she chooses to get a MM in VP.
My D eventually decided that she really had no interest whatsoever in teaching choral music, so she dropped the teacher certification part. One thing she really felt at UMich was that people looked down on the VP B students - that they weren’t “serious” about their craft, or they wouldn’t be “settling” for adding an ed degree too. That used to really annoy her.
My husband and I are both teachers, and so we honestly were probably part of the reason she dropped the VP B track - we’ve told her many times that only people who really have a passion for teaching should get ed degrees - that there are enough bad teachers in the world. She would love to have her own studio one day - but that’s not the same thing, and doesn’t require an ed degree - VP is the better route for that outcome. But if your D really wants to teach choral music in a K-12 setting or elementary music, than music ed is definitely the smarter route.
As for the not going out-of-state, I am a good example of someone who has never taught in the state that I got my undergrad. And I’ve never had a big problem getting a job. But I did go to a large-name school (Florida State), so even though it wasn’t local, I’m sure all the people I’ve interviewed for have heard of it. I think that helps. I’ve taught in TX and MI - I did have a difficult time getting a job in TX initially, but that’s because I was a woman (yes, they actually said that to my face…but that’s another story!!). So although I can understand the need to stay in-state, I think going to a big-name school, such as ASU, would not hurt her in finding a teaching job. And I know that ASU has a very good VP program - in fact, my D is planning on applying there for her MM.