I don’t think anyone diminished you - and no one said you can’t go to a four year school.
The reality is - many students makes the mistake of not factoring in budget up front. You did - and you were given lots of colleges you’d get into - inside and outside of budget. It was smart that you provided budget - didn’t sound like, for example, you knew about Questbridge.
I can see potentially every college in Florida short of UF and FSU. USF will be tough but a maybe. Not sure how hard FAU Honors would be to get into but that could be a good fit or New College.
You can find lots of schools you can get into - lots - but it’s a question of - yes - budget.
If you, for example, went to us news top LACs - and let’s say start at 40, you’d likely get into some; at 60 and lower and there’s fantastic schools, you’d get into many.
You’d get into most public universities in the US.
But again - yes it comes back to - how will you afford.
UNC Asheville may be one to look at. Iowa for literature. Elon is strong and gay friendly and you can get in. Ithaca. Indiana. Umass. Oregon and Southern Oregon.
But again, to look at it from this angle…it’s a mistake.
No one is down on you- we’re trying to help.
Good luck.