College Choice

Pitt is a great engineering school. But with ACT 34 as a white male from IL(?) I don’t think you would get a full ride, especially in engineering. Last year the freshman class honors college eligible students had an average 1484 CR&M SAT, that is about 34 average, so that means many had a higher ACT score. Only 2% of applicants got full tuition, about 600, there are only a few full rides and they go to Chancellors scholars (usually not engineering majors), instate Stamps scholars and some URM students.

You will be full pay or close on most of the schools you listed.

Apply to instate, some schools that offer merit like Case Western, U Rochester, Lehigh, U Alabama, they are research universities that offer great opportunities for engineering.

Apply, visit and compare programs and see which you like best and makes the best financial sense.