Help out a stressed junior from a small island?

Do you mean that you are a US citizen living outside the US? If so, you would be a domestic student for US colleges and universities, but without state residency for state universities.

You can take only $5,500 in student loans the first year. Anything more would have to be parent loans or cosigned loans, which are typically not a good idea.

Have you tried the net price calculator on the web sites of colleges of interest?