Instead of Alabama, why don’t you apply to UAH - smaller, suburban (so not rural) - and very well reputed. You don’t need to worry about decent merit. It’s all in a table. Same with Alabama and Arizona - automerit - but they are large. Ms State is not huge…and it’s rural. It’s large…but not extra extra large. Ms State will show you your scholarship on their calculator…but Alabama, UAH, Arizona have an auto merit based on a table. Murray State as well.
Another good one would be Missouri S&T.
Wyoming would work too - and be cheap.
Good luck.