Hi - congrats on a fine record. I think you can find programs with good writing at most places - and definitely Poli Sci at most places.
UMD is very large. I wouldn’t recommend Alabama but with $24K automerit, you will be in the mid-upper 20s. But it’s a big school - and you were hesitant with that.
Ole Miss is known for English - considered one of the top - and it will also be inexpensive. It’s much smaller than Alabama - and you should hit budget.
U Kansas is another.
You can look at meets need schools. In other words, your family saved $30K but will the schools say you need to spend less….or more?
Sewanee is a small LAC that’s well known for English. It won’t hit budget unless you have need. I’ve linked the NPC below.
You may look at some SUNY schools - such as Geneseo or New Paltz. You may look at Salisbury in-state as it will hit budget or Mary Washington in neighboring Virginia, another budget friendly school. More regional but Marshall in WV is another mid size budget buster for you. UNC Wilmington will be another that could work for you, known for their writing program. A little further away is Central Michigan.
All of these have writing concentrations - given your desire not to focus on literature.
You could try Ithaca - I don’t think it gets you to cost….but worth a flyer.
I don’t see Gtown, JHU or UMD happening (I’ll hold out hope for UMD) - but I’ll think good things for you. I do think you need to fall in love with your back up in-states or you can look at some I mentioned out of state - which should hit $$ for you. Bama will 100% assuredly hit your budget but I think Ole Miss is a better fit (a bit smaller and well known for English/writing - and Poli Sci is solid everywhere - but there especially in international topics through its Croft school. I believe it will hit $$ but not 100% sure.
Not sure of your geographic desires - can you elaborate more - but hopefully that helps.