NMTech (small town/rural area) with WUE might come in within your budget.
Tech isn’t a LAC, but it’s not all science all the time either. Has some pretty good liberal arts options. Lots of outdoor activities, including world class climbing nearby. Campus owns its own championship level golf course.
Tech offers all kinds of internship opportunities with the two National Laboratories (Los Almost and Sandia), AF Research Lab on Kirtland AFB in ABQ, White Sands Missle Range, Intel and several other companies along the I-25 corridor in NM