A degree from UC carries a lot of weight, at least in CA. Are you from CA? Yes lower division courses can be very large but less so once you are in your major and in your more specialized upper division classes. Also the caliber of students is very high so you will have a lot of motivated people surrounding you and that can be quite stimulating. A couple of UCs are smaller and I would not rule them out, particularly UCSC and UCR. Low income students get very good packages at UC. Anytime you can find ways to trim your costs and spend a little less is less money you have to come up with on your own or borrow. Sometimes you can do that by finding cheap off campus housing after freshman year.