I love the conclusion to your story: originally you were worried about getting into FSU and only applied to Iowa as a safety (which you worried would be too expensive)… and it turns out that it’s not only less expensive, but also more interesting to you!
It shows how things can change over the course of a year.
Have you visited Iowa? Done an overnight?
I’m a big proponent of going away and discovering another part of the country while in college, if one receives a scholarship to do so. It’s the only time when one is not tied up to a place (job, couple/kids, obligations) AND will have a financial advantage in moving.