Count me as another one who wishes she’d taken the full ride from the state flagship. Instead, I maxed out the government loans - both the regular ones and the extra ones they give to kids who are really poor. Dumbest thing I ever did in my life and I now refuse to let my children be burdened with undergraduate debt. Not when we can also reasonably afford 30k per year. That’s a boatload of money. You should be able to find something in between local schools you don’t want to attend and your dream school. Our oldest is in college now. Yes, she also had an expensive dream school and local affordable options which she didn’t like at all. But she ended up with two excellent affordable options, neither of which is within three hours of our home. I’m sure you’ll find some too. Start looking.