I am the mom of a junior at Carlson. He is having a wonderful experience and I have no doubt that the UMN was the best decision for him. He has been given, and taken advantage of many opportunities, including performing at the Super Bowl as a member of the Marching Band! His international experience in Shanghai was not only interesting, but very relevant to his Supply Chain Management major.
That said, as an Ohio resident, I am grateful that he was able, as a 2015 HS graduate, to receive a tuition discount to bring his tuition down to the in-state rate. If he did not receive sufficient merit aid, it is likely that he would have chosen another school. He did turn down a full-tuition plus scholarship at Miami University (one of our in-state options). At Carlson he is surrounded by many other high-achieving students and I am sure that another well-qualified student would have taken his spot if he did not attend. It truly is a matter of weighing all of your options and choosing the best - including an option that fits within your budget.
OP - you seem as though you are a highly-qualified applicant with many good choices. UMN is a great school - but there are many great schools! I agree that cost is, and should be, a factor for most applicants. Best of luck to you!