My budget would depend on the school. Since I live in Florida, I qualify for full tuition (minus room and board) at all state schools, including UF. So, when considering costs for out of state, I have to take that into account. Now, if I get accepted into a highly competitive school, my parents can go a bit higher (say $40k), but it would depend on the school and if it’s that much better than UF.
I am applying to Northeastern and BU, but avoiding single gender schools. Do you have any specific input into Brandeis? In my research, I find a lot of mixed reviews.