@MYOS1634 Thank you so much for your help! I’ll be sure to look into those colleges and universities you listed. I really appreciate your help, and I’m sorry that I do not have ACT/SAT scores yet, I know that would help in calculating costs. 
Grove City College is pretty cheap.
^except it’s not Catholic, but evangelical, and some there don’t consider Catholics as being Christian (for example, due to the practice of praying to saints and infant baptism.)
^Grove City College is loosely associated with the Presbyterian denomination but welcomes students of any faith. Although on the conservative end of the spectrum of Presbyterian beliefs, it is unlike evangelical schools such as Liberty that teach creationism rather than evolution. By the way, most Presbyterians and many other mainline Protestants do practice infant baptism. Protestants of any denomination do not pray to saints.
Catholics don’t “pray to saints” either. They ask the saints to pray for us, just like Catholics ask the living to pray for us.
For example: the Hail Mary:
Hail Mary full of grace the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou amongst sinners and blessed is the womb of thy Lord Jesus i*
Hail Mary Mother of God pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.( Not praying to Mary, but instead asking Mary to pray on our behalf)
Catholics ask the entire community to intercede on their behalf - including the living and the deceased.
@MYOS1634 included many of the school I mentioned previously, and added more good options, also the earlier advice about including schools with an active Newman Center is great advice (While S is at a Jesuit institution, S is at a secular college with over 1/3 of students being Catholic and an active Catholic presence on campus).
As far as infant Baptism goes, those faiths that practice infant Baptism typically have an additional step of confirmation, which takes place at a similar age that Baptism occurs for those faiths that do not practice infant Baptism. There is still an affirmation of faith that takes place at an age more able to understand the significance.
^ just to be clear, those weren’t my beliefs that I presented, but those held (by at least one chaplain) at the college. Grove city is not related to the mainstream Presbyterian group, but close to the pca, a group that splintered off after issues of integration decades ago. It IS academically rigorous, a great place for a conservative Christian to explore their faith, like Point Loma or Hope or Wheaton. However I don’t think it’s a good college for Catholics.
My D looked at many Jesuit colleges although we are not catholic. We really liked most of them. I agree that you MUST look at schools that meet 100% need if your parents are not likely to help. “Catholic” schools we visited and liked included St. Michaels (VT), University of Scranton (PA), and Providence College (RI), which we considered safeties but without test scores its impossible to tell in your case.
College of the Holy Cross is a school I wish we had visited. It is very highly regarded and a match for someone with a high 3 point GPA and ACT over 30. According to a previous poster, they meet 100% need. Take a look.
What exactly are you looking for? “Catholic” school could mean virtually secular (think Georgetown) to places like Belmont Abbey College where all your professors and students are expected to adhere strictly to Catholic doctrine.
If it’s the former, I would also apply to secular schools that interest you as well; most secular schools will have active religious ministries you can get involved with.
Notre Dame offered us a tremendous financial aid package.
I would run the Net Price Calculator to give yourself an idea of how much it would be. Also, the net price calculator for Notre Dame is only estimating what the “University Scholarship” amount might be. In addition they have a “Provost Scholarship” which is technically a need based award (Only those that demonstrate financial need are eligible), but has a merit based component. In addition to that I believe most of the Notre Dame Alumni Clubs raise funds to provide scholarships for admitted students from their geographic area that show financial need.
I was definitely pleasantly surprised by the financial aid award after the Provost Scholarship and Alumni Club Scholarship were added.
If anyone comes from a family that makes less than $100,000 per year and is thinking ND’s not an option because of price, I would always encourage people to apply to ND. I think you you just might be surprised.
Also, a year ago an alumnus donated $20 million dollars to fund “The Fighting Irish Initiative” which will be a “groundbreaking” program to fund fully the education of students coming from low-income households making less than $50,000 annually.
The Fighting Irish Initiative will fully fund the cost for low-income students to attend Notre Dame — including tuition and fees, room and board, books, transportation and personal expenses. At the same time, the initiative will create a comprehensive enrichment program that will help these students get the most from their Notre Dame experience.
I don’t know if the program is fully in place yet or not. You may want to contact the Admissions Rep for your area.