If you’re concerned about $75 application fee then are you concerned with final cost of the school you go to? One way to explain to relatives is if you pick schools where your stats put you in contention for merit scholarships. Or once you get a good list, go through and run all the net price calculators. If money is an issue, then maybe showing those results to parents, etc will convince them to widen their college search for you.
And I wouldn’t suggest applying to every one on your original post - some you can rule out based on major, location or whatever. Just pick a few of that type of school to satisfy. Then your own list.