@averageapp1852
It’s time to be frank with yourself. You know how much you have available for college: $20,000. You can increase that to approximately $25K by taking out student loans in your name each year.
UMass-Dartmouth is less than $28K/yr. With a couple of small merit awards, this would fall within your budget.
Right now is not the time to stubbornly stick to your adolescent dream schools, no matter what. You can apply to them and hope the money magically appears, but the prudent choice would be to also apply to schools that fit your budget.
I recommend applying to UM Amherst, UM Lowell, UM Boston, and UM Dartmouth. You won’t know what smaller merit awards you might get until you are accepted. One school might offer just enough to get under your budget, or offer enough work-study money to make it possible. Or maybe your parents will extend their budget another $2K-$3K to get it done.
The other three schools are significantly smaller than Amherst, and Dartmouth is downright cozy at 8700 enrollment.
Keep searching. Broaden your options. There are good choices out there. It’s up to you to find them.
P.S. - I’m glad to be in NC. Our in-state prices are about 1/4 to 1/3 of MA’s.