@SpiritManager - I grew a special attachment to the first/only school we have thought about - UNT. They have a calculator where you can type in your class rank and ACT/SAT to determine the automatic academic scholarship. Then when you receive one of their scholarships for over $1,000/year, they offer in-state tuition, which is such a good deal that there virtually needs to be no waiting to imagine the financial picture there. I would call this a low-risk financial safety. If I had notes that showed a $43,000 annual tuition with unknown scholarship levels, I would know it as a riskier choice.