Bama is a money school - let’s be honest. You want cheap and a fine outcome, you get it. A great experience too - for what my son wanted. His own room and access to outdoor activities, etc. He didn’t do all the stuff you read about (Greek) although he enjoyed occasional sporting events. But kids flock there due to the money…yes, many have a wonderful experience.
To me School of Mines would be great for what you described for her if Denver isn’t too far away.
I noted Ga Tech would be a reasonable reach (if an urban school that size interests her).
In other words, it might be a rejection - but so what - no pain, no gain. To me, that’s not a reason not to apply.
Now, this is the entire school, not engineering but the 25/75 split on the SAT is 1330/1510. Women are accepted at a 22% level vs. 13% for men.
If she has interest - not just it’s high ranked - I would take my shot…because it’s a perfectly reasonable reach.
I like what you wrote about WPI - she visited, she loved.
That’s important - not necessarily before you apply but before you decide…because while RHIT is a FANTASTIC school and punches above its weight career wise, many would be miserable on a small campus, miles from a small town.
So it’s not just who is great - but where she sees herself thriving. So visits to each are critical. We actually - on the Purdue trip - did RHIT on the way and UIUC on the way home. For my son, only Purdue made the final list. He also did STEP and it cemented his interest in engineering - and I thought for sure he was going there til he decided not to!! Loved the food, campus…everything but the housing situation (and my guess, distance to mom).
I’ll throw one more at you. I describe this as a huge W&M - campus was just similar to me - not nearly as “academicky” but a great rep nonetheless - and has ABET ChemE. Miami of Ohio - and she’d get great merit.
Good luck.