OP: Are you familiar with honors colleges at large state universities ? Many are designed to give one the advantages of both a small, intimate college experience combined with the benefits of the resources of a large university. Many state university honors colleges offer substantial merit scholarship money.
Check out the Honors College at the University of South Carolina, the University of Alabama Honors College, the University of Mississippi Honors College (you probably could attend for free as you would be awarded multiple merit scholarships including one for Girl Scout Gold status), College of Charleston Honors, Furman University in South Carolina might be of interest to you.