Retirement savings don’t “count” in your assets, I think.
How much do you have in your college fund? Based on the amounts you indicate, it’d be about $100,000, right? Hence, $22-25,000 just from your college fund, provided you graduate in 4 years. Add the federal loans, a modest contribution from your parents (who should at least be able to refund the college credit they get from your being in college + fund the food you won’t be eating at their house) and some part time job earnings, and you should be able to count on about $35,000. However, if there are other issues:
1° study hard for the SAT in order to take the PSAT and become NMSF. That’ll open the door to a lot of full rides and full tuition offers at many universities.
2° Look at “colleges that change lives”. They don’t offer computer engineering but often offer computer science. Not sure whether you’ll like them but you’d be likely to get some financial aid/merit aid. Knox has a good writing program (you said you like writing, right?) Reed, Whitman, St Olaf, are all excellent schools with focused students and lots of opportunities.
3° Being from Wyoming is actually a hook. 
There are few applicants, and few with your credentials. This would help you with colleges that offer merit aid since being a “rare commodity” makes it more likely you’ll get preferential packaging.
@MYOS1634 I’m aware retirement doesn’t count. I didn’t put in it in to any of the calculators either. The college funds are split between 3 children(see about 10,000 per year for college for each === $120-150,000). With that and the full $5,500 in loans + a little bit from my parents, I’m still going in to quiet a bit of debt for any of the high end schools. For H it would be about $60-70,000 worth of debt(about 10-15 in loans per year), MIT would be around 80 and HMC would be $100,000 or so.
I’m definitely working on the SAT/ACT, I’m hoping to get a 33+ in June and hope to use NMSF/NMF/NMS for money if I can’t go to top school.
I’ll definitely look at some of the smaller colleges that you mentioned; Reed has Steve Jobs! That’s pretty awesome! and, lots of others look very nice although some of them have costs up there with the best.
What all states would you consider hook states? There are lots of low population states that I’m not sure if would be considered a hoo, but if it is, I’ll definitely try to use it.
Thanks for all of your help!
@MandarinSin - You are remarkably well-informed for an “uninformed highschooler”!
Wyoming is considered the classic “hook state” due to its small population and a relatively small percentage of qualified students. Google “class 2018 all 50 states” to see how many colleges considered this important enough to mention. If you figure that HYPSM have to accept at least two students from a state to be relatively confident of landing one, and other colleges need to attract three or more, if you are near the top of the heap in Wyoming, you’re going to have better odds than similar students in other states.
@BldrDad Thanks!
I just looked at UPenn’s class of 2018(wasn’t easy to find lots of them with state chart) but they only have one person from my state. How much of a hook is that really? Is it comparable to being a URM? Obviously I doubt it is at the level of a recruited athlete but I hope it means something.
Thanks for all of your help!
Yes it’s comparable to being a URM and almost as big a push as being an athlete if you have the stats, but not if you don’t have the stats (unlike being an athlete).
However, don’t think that makes you a shoo in everywhere ;-)… so, still, consider your safeties and matches carefully.
$135,000 is certainly different than $100,000. Keep figuring out a way to pay for the school you really want to go to. With $135,000 in family income, you will be expected to pay more than those who make less, but at the same time, you ought to be able to make it work. That’s still low enough that some very good financial aid is given. Also, note that even though some of the Ivy League schools don’t factor in loans when they come up with your financial aid package, that doesn’t mean you can’t take some. Small loans are acceptable in my opinion.
@MandarinSin You look like you’re in good shape! I can’t comment on the homeschool factor because I have no handle on how that translates to college admissions, but your stats (SAT, GPA, etc) indicate that you’re a strong student. I agree with the previous posters that since you’re already getting a 210 on the PSAT and 31 on the ACT as a sophomore, your junior year stats should be easily within the range of super elite schools.
Make sure you maintain your GPA during the rest of the sophomore and junior year! As far as EC’s go, I think you’re in good shape.
I’m no expert, but I think you’re in a really good spot right now. It’s too early to be sure, but keep your grades up and stretch yourself and you should have some great options come senior year.
The NPC generally give realistic numbers - those schools expect someone with that much income and assets to pay that much. They dont factor what you or your parents think should be paid. Someone will have to acquire debt at those schools - I am not sure how you get around that. It is a choice that your family and you need to decide