I think the OP will get some merit from Buffalo…based on what I have observed. I also think this student will make honors. Binghamton will not give merit.
OP can you give us a firm number that your parents can pay? Try the NPCs and see if the number is affordable.
Pitt is an outstanding school, and Alabama has a lot of OOS students who attend because of the generous merit. Again…try the NPCs. It will be hard to get enough merit in the northeast to bring the cost down to less than $20,000.