The old scholarship at a less selective school or higher price for more selective school question...

A scholarship is your best bet by far. Right now the economy is collapsing and we’re not sure how long it’s going to last. An expensive school is an option if there’s certainty of a continuous cash flow. A layoff of a parent would blow that up real quick, forcing you to transfer and lose credits. A scholarship is a written offer of guaranteed money and it will continue regardless of any employment situation.