CC admissions stories are breaking my heart

Did you apply to a FAFSA or Profile school, MidwestSalmon? It will change the result.

As for targeting schools, there are some with guaranteed scholarship money, and many with scholarships that are either awarded spontaneously or have an application process. Those of course are less certain, but worth pursuing. Any good application process should have the mix of academic as well as financial likely, match and reach schools.