I don’t think what you are finding about GT is unusual. We were living in north Florida when my kids were applying to colleges and no one they knew went to GT (or other Georgia schools) because they just weren’t a good deal when compared to Florida schools, and that was back when BF only paid about $3000. Kids went to Alabama and Mississippi State, but not to GT or UGa because the financial aid wasn’t there.
If your son wants to work a lot while in school or do co-ops and internships, I’m sure he could make a lot of money to help pay for future years. That might be part of his decision, whether he wants to contribute to costs.