So if I wanted to spend $40-50K and wanted to be in automotive (I’m in automotive but not engineering - I work with engineers - my list might look like:
UNCC since you got in
Not FIT
Oregon State is great but I suspect you won’t get WUE.
You have in-state
Schools like Clemson, NC State won’t get you to cost - not close so.
Now, one thing I’d think about - am I ok being far from home?
If you like the aspect of UNCC, then the Purdue campus you want is in Indianapolis.
I would add WVU and Miss State to your list - both do well in automotive and both will hit budget. But again, you are leaving out West.
UAH will hit cost - and has a Toyota/Mazda plant there.
Tennessee Tech and UT Chattanooga will both hit and are buy Nissan and VW respectively.
If I were to stay out west, any schools - a CSU, UNM, and WASU should hit budget. Utah too.
Good luck.