If a HS student applies to a “prestigious” college and is accepted, but does not attend due to costs (happens all the time), there is no way that a graduate program will know or care. It is meaningless. They will only care about what you did while at your chosen school, or if if you choose to work before attending grad school.
Many students are accepted to a school such as Cornell (only using this as an example) and attend their state school. What matters is what you do/did while there.
We are talking about biology, yes?