It’s pointless to attend a college for a degee that will not lead to the career you want (and not much career at all as architecture is currently the worst major for ROI.)
Your family’s afraid of letting you go - but that’s part of adulthood. They’re afraid because you’ll be far away. But you’ve shown in the past couple years, getting high grades in CC and holding a good job, that’s you’re responsible. Now’s your chance to apply it all and take that leap. Don’t let someone else’s fear hold you back.
Ey, your family’ll be able to visit you in Chicago: cheap vacation for them and a good model for your siblings! 
Seriously though: apply to majors that appeal to you instate AND to Northwester, DePaul, and USC.
I agree USC sounds like the closest to what you’d want for your career and you’re realistic when you say it’s very difficult to get in - most of the transfers they admit come from California community colleges, then from 4-year colleges, so there are precious few spots left for community college students from out of state. But you won’t know if you don’t try.
What about UNC-CH?