However, Washington direct admission to CS should be considered a reach.
Some students do not have a choice in that cost constraints are so tight that affordable cost is the what determines “fit” for them.
In this case, did the money saved by attending the cheaper college first make it possible to afford the remaining years at the more expensive college? This is somewhat analogous to a student starting at a community college to save money to be able to afford the last two years at a four year school.