Do you have a price in mind when you say you’d like merit aid (i.e. you want price below $50k, $30k, $15k)? Do any schools think that you have financial need (run the Net Price Calculator at a generous private like Harvard…if they don’t think you have need, then no one will)? Are there geographic areas that your D would like to focus in on (or avoid)?
With respect to her ACT score, I think it’s a great score and definitely wouldn’t want her to ruin a summer for a chance at improving.
I’ll put my thinking cap on, but you may be interested in this post about someone who was looking for photography at urban liberal arts schools: Looking for a mid size Liberal Arts College with a good photography department - #6 by AustenNut