Occidental seems like it would be a great fit. Offers merit aid. Great for interdisciplinary studies. Close to the ocean and generally beautiful weather (although was poring rain when we visited). I think it’s an underrated school. Lots of films/etc. filmed here and Obama went there before he transferred to Columbia. They have a Media Arts & Culture major.
If she’s open to women’s colleges, Scripps as part of the Claremont consortium, is a wonderful school that’s small but part of the consortium so seems much larger. They have an interdisciplinary Media Studies | Scripps College in Claremont California program. They offer merit aid. Great school spirit amongst the consortium. And the weather is HOT most of the time and a quick train ride or longer drive to the beach.
Also, although most are in very cold locations, many of the historically women’s colleges seem to offer a lot of merit aid to lure highly desirable candidates and all seem to have holistic admissions process. I’m thinking Bryn Mawr College (PA - my kid goes here), Mount Holyoke (MA), and Smith (MA). (No merit aid offered at Wellesley or Barnard.) Not sure about the film studies at these schools (see links below), but worth checking out if she’s willing to apply to women’s colleges. All are part of a consortium, so make them seem like larger schools than they are, and at least I know BMC has great school spirit based upon traditions, not really sports. And being a grad of a historically women’s college (and women’s colleges in general) offer a fantastic networking benefits.
Bryn Mawr film studies minor - https://www.brynmawr.edu/inside/academic-information/departments-programs/film-studies
Mount Holyoke - Film, Media, Theater | Mount Holyoke College Catalog
Smith - Film & Media Studies | Smith College
Good luck!