@thumper1, I can only go on the data presented. If the OP says $30k is their budget, then stretching to $36k with loans is not unreasonable.
That said, an EFC of zero will get an OOS student a Pell and nothing more. IF there isn’t more to the situation where they can mobilize funds that don’t impact their EFC, then no CA public would be a wise choice.
If that is indeed the case, the OP should focus on schools known to meet 100% of financial need.
As for auto-scholarship schools, a Pell would cut that $10k in half, leaving a manageable $20k debt at the end of 4 years.
One of my major frustrations about CC is when a poster poses a question and then disappears, leaving the rest of us spinning in circles conjecturing. @intparent asked a great question that has yet to be answered. Until it is, any further effort on the CC community’s part is sort of pointless.