I honestly do not know about merit possibilities. But check Flagler College in St. Augustine. Total cost of attendance for this smallLAC is bout $34,000 a year. It’s possible that they provide merit to students too. Your student can take the $5500 Direct Loan leaving about $29,000 tocover there. If your student got half of that, you would meet your price point.
I know you said smaller school…but really don’t discount Eastern CT State University. It’s not huge, it it’s a very nice campus, and with the loan would come very close to your price point.