Applying to UM, UI, CU, UT, and UW Out-of-State, EFC = 0

What is “terrible” about physics at UNC-CH, NCSU, or other NC public universities?

Realistically, for those out-of-state public universities on your list, you should consider them all reaches, since you need large merit scholarships to afford them, and they may not have many large-enough ones (so they are highly competitive).