@ucbalumnus, OK, SDSU offers some engineering (but not, say, material science).
However, they charge more for engineering, and that may push the affordability past the limit, given travel costs.
BTW, check out SDSU’s wacky tuition schedule for EE: http://www.sdstate.edu/academic/tuition-fee-pricing.cfm?residency=Non-Resident
So these days, for a kid who isn’t 95th percentile or above but is willing to work hard but who’s family can’t pay for much (or qualify for much aid) and can’t commute somewhere, it seems that AP/CLEP/IB/CC/dual enrollment may be the only options, but that’s good for only the first 2 years or so. After that . . . work at Starbucks and get an online degree?