I’ll try to keep my agonizing college decision dillemma summary short.
I love Claremont McKenna but it is 65k a year. It is doable for my family, but it would be a burden and is it really worth it?
I love UCSD (San Diego is my fav location out of the three) and it’s 30k which is definitely doable. Muir College.
Cal Poly is great, 25k is totally fine. Great school, great location, but it’s not as prestigious (I know, I shouldn’t base it in that, but it’s a nagging feeling).
Majors? Business, engineering, food science, nutrition, environmental studies, social justice, global health–I really don’t know.
PLEASE ENLIGHTEN ME WITH ANY INFORMATION OR EXPERIENCES YOU HAVE 
Also, I’m on the waitlist for UCLA and while I know that my chances are very low, it would definitely be an option if I got in.
Sounds like you can knock CM off your list due to cost. If cost is not an issue for the other two, then you really need to look at the fit. You list a bunch of majors, but what major were you accepted with? If it is engineering, Cal Poly is just as prestigious as UCSD but the two programs are very different- UCSD more theoretical vs. CPSLO more hands-on. I love both campuses- my H and I graduated from CPSLO and our youngest son is currently at UCSD- but again totally different atmospheres. If UCSD is your favorite as far as location, then it seems like a no-brainer. The education will be great no matter what major, and you can’t go wrong living in La Jolla! My son swears he will never leave and loves every minute of his time at UCSD.
I am undeclared for UCSD and CMC. CPSLO I am Industrial Technology in the Business school (but I will definitely change because I thought that it was totally different.) I like UCSD more than CPSLO but I am also worried because if I do want to pursue business, UCSD does not have a “Business” major, only Econ. Should that even be a factor? CPSLO and CMC do.
Have you spoken to the CMC folks to see if there is any financial aid for you. I think they meet 100% of demonstrated need while the other larger schools do not. CMC and the other two colleges are very very different. CMC is a very small and intimate college and the other two are large schools with a totally different feel. It really depends on what you want in a college experience. Have you visited any of the campuses?
My family does not qualify for need-based aid and I did not get any merit aid either. I have been to all the campuses multiple times and I love th CMC feel but I think I would be happy at UCSD too, as well as CPSLO.
@takeitallin @LKnomad I don’t know if my replies directly notfied you, so I am tagging you.
I guess it really comes down what you are going to study. If it is engineering, then it should be UCSD or SLO, but if it is Gov/Econ/Finance, then CMC, although it costs a lot more.
CPSLO has all of the majors you want but it can be difficult to switch majors there. Before deciding you should check into how hard it is to switch. If you want business you should probably stick with CPSLO.