You can always do a semester abroad in the US, if the college in your country participates in those opportunities. In this way, you can study for a semester and have that experience.
The colleges you’ve selected are very, very competitive. Plus the $20k will probably just cover your flights, US health insurance and your daily expenses. This means that you will need large merit packages. With Covid, the universities lost millions in income. The money is limited and scarce. Your safeties are the universities in your country.
“Settling” for a college in your home country sounds a bit disparaging. I imagine that there are thousands of students in your country who wouldn’t call it “settling”.
Also, there are thousands of US students who are also trying to get scholarships to pay for their college educations and usually don’t get funded. They attend their local community colleges or instate choices if they can afford them.