Do you live close to any of the CC’s that partner with UIUC’s Engineering Pathways program?
http://pathways.engineering.illinois.edu
2 years at a CC and guaranteed transfer in to UIUC Engineering for 2 years if you meet a reasonable GPA target.
Possibly less than 2 years at the CC if they take AP credits. Not sure how that would work.
If you can contribute $22K over 4 years, you may be able to afford UIUC for 2 years (and she may earn a small scholarship for the 2 years at UIUC; evidently, 40% of Pathways students do).