@PurpleTitan Yearly OOS costs for New Mexico Tech are over $30,000 just for tuition, fees, room and board. Were you looking at semester costs? The OP would need a scholarship much higher than $5000 for it to be affordable.
Thanks, @ucbalumnus. I must have been reading the semester numbers.
https://engineering.illinois.edu/admissions/undergraduate/transfers.html says the middle 50% ACT scores of those in the UIUC Engineering Pathways program is 31-27.
If you enter UIUC Engineering Pathways but fail to meet the requirements to stay in, transferring to UIC to finish up would still be an option.
My true favorite is Iowa State. Great engineering program and I loved the campus/school. Like I said, only issue would be the price. It’s less than some in state schools. at about $20,000 yearly (assuming the Net Price Calculator was right on the grant that I could get). I would be at about 40-50k in debt after this without any federal loans considered.
@ALewis3 If you don’t satisfy UAH’s social studies requirement based on your current/planned courses, can you take another social studies course senior year by dropping one of your AP math courses (especially if one of them is AP Stats)?
One of them is AP Stats. I could probably do that unless they consider Spanish courses to be social studies(have seen some do that). I’ve taken Spanish since 2nd grade and am legally bi-literate.
Though if you take debt, Federal loans should generally be your first option.
I would get the most federal loans I could receive. Rest would have to be regular loans. So about 20-30k in non-federal loans shouldn’t be too horrible(Obviously not great but I think it is pretty manageable). Especially if I work a lot(I plan to work a lot during college) and can get internships there(Iowa State is great for those) and a job out of college.
UAH admissions is super helpful. And they really want your application. You can be more than a number with UAH. Check their website and find out who your admissions counselor is. They divide the country into regions and assign certain states to a counselor.
Email your counselor and ask questions. Not having a social studies class because you made room for a more interesting, or more difficult class should be okay.
If you go to the UAH college section on this forum, make a new post eith this question about social studies. Current students at UAH and sonetimes even UAH admissions will reply.
Look at the University of Cincinnati. They do offer merit scholarships and they have a very good engineering co-op program. If you get a scholarship, that plus your college fund plus federal loans plus money you earn through co-ops might make it doable. It’s worth a shot. Also, for all of the schools that you are looking at, make sure to pay attention to deadlines. Many may have earlier deadlines to be considered for scholarships.
First off my D19 went from a 30 to a 34 on the ACT. It is possible. No outside help.
We are in IL too (Chicago burbs). D19 ended deciding on MiamiOH. Plenty of merit, but the hurdle was getting a 33 or higher.
Look at MO S&T. She had a good offer there as well. It is STEM school.
Best advice get the ACT score up. Then look for places that give big merit.
So UIUC is an option through pathways but the community colleges listed like Oakton FYI is not a blow off easy CC. They are just tough enough. 3.5 could be a struggle to get. Pre engineering if taught correctly is not easy at all but it is an option non the less.
ISU is a great school. Email /call about Co - op as mentioned. If you can work your way through school. Also yes many ISU will get 2 internships and they pay well so that’s a means to pay off loans or to your grandmother.
If your worst case scenario is ending 4 years of college $50,000 debt, for engineering I would take that deal everyday. Just extend graduation and do a few co-op or internships till you pay them off and you get great work experience to boot which makes you more marketable… Which could give you a higher starting salary.
Thank you everyone for the help. I will be going to take the ACT once more and going for a 32. If I can get a 32, I can go to University of Alabama with full tuition paid and would have to pay about 50-60k without any grants or any out of pocket.
If I can’t do this I will be looking to either go to ISU or UAH. ISU would let me walk out with about $50000 in debt, and UAH would be about $45000 in debt. ISU is close to home so that’s why it remains an option.
I’ll keep my mind open for other things, but this is what I’m looking at now. Will be doing co-op programs with them like stated prior, and will be using al the information given by everyone to help me in my decision. 
Do look into U Cincinnati - excellent, well paid for co-ops + competitive merit.
A student with a 32 act should NOT fo to community college, as the 32 unlocks full tuition scholarships which would be list of s/he becomes a transfer student.
chai1vhh, Tutoring isn’t going to drastically increase the income of most students. It’s certainly not going to net enough to cover a substantial chunk of tuition.
Students who start at a community college lose the ability to get freshman grants. The best aid comes from the colleges. Students should look for schools that offer merit for their stats.
oos tuition, fees, room & board for University of Toledo is approx $30k
https://www.utoledo.edu/financialaid/calculator/costofattendance.aspx
automatic merit aid for current stats (3.5gpa ACT 30) is $13.5k http://www.utoledo.edu/admission/freshman/scholarships/2019/out-of-state.html
net price $16.5k for tuition, fees, room & board
co-op program http://www.utoledo.edu/engineering/co-op-and-careers/
If you are comfortable in Iowa, you might find you like South Dakota School of Mines. It’ll have a lower price tag than ISU, even for out of state.
From University of Alabama at Huntsville:
Applicants with deficiencies in the required high school courses may be admitted in good standing under certain circumstances. The deficiencies, however, must be remedied during the first year of enrollment in a manner approved by the concerned department. Courses taken to remedy entrance deficiencies cannot be used to satisfy degree requirements.
This is probably what applies to your only 3 years of Social Studies. Many, if not most, public schooled California students only have three years of social studies. I wonder how they fare with admissions at Huntsville.
Most OOS public schools only offer merit for high stats, not need based aid.
UAH, UA, are both good choices and offer some generous awards. For UAH you can keep raising your ACT score and GPA and they will accept it for a higher award up until the end of senior year I believe.
All ABET accredited engineering programs will prepare you well, whether instate or OOS.
The FAFSA forecaster only lets you know if you qualify for a Pell Grant which it sounds like you will not.