OP, since you noted National Merit, you might find this thread helpful.
Again, find the right school for you student first and foremost. You have large - 34,500 undergrads at Michigan, near 38k at Wisconsin, 39k at Purdue - these can be 50k plus with grad students - and then you have smaller which it seems you prefer.
You may find some insights here that are directly related to your mention of National Merit - a whole host of schools you may not recognize.
Congrats to your student. I’m sure they’ll find a great school.