To me, the basic question is whether you are willing to be full pay at CC regardless of how much money she would get elsewhere. Would one of the other schools rise to the top with significant merit? Would Brown overtake CC if she got in? Are you at all concerned about how much CC will cost in case of something else happening in your lives or for retirement?
If the answer to the first is a definite yes, and to the others is no, then apply ED. If the answers are not clear, or are maybes, then don’t.
How do you know she will get merit at CC? Or anywhere? The CC website does not seem to guarantee merit?