Friend of ours are a “Ursinus ” couple who had no hesitation urging their son to go there over a number of like choices. He got s nice award there that has made law school much more affordable than if he had gone to one of the other choices that were full pay on the parents behalf. My dearest friend had two sisters who graduated from there; one met her spouse there too. All delightful people who speak warmly of the school. I think the school is a real contender.
American is in a category of its own being a university right in DC area. There are benefits to its locale that the other LACs on your son’s list do not have