<p>If you are awarded NMF, New Jersey Institue of Technology might be a nice financial safety.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.njit.edu/financialaid/typesofaid/scholarships/meritbasedawards.php”>http://www.njit.edu/financialaid/typesofaid/scholarships/meritbasedawards.php</a></p>
<p>We found exactly what the other posters here have recommended. You’ll be better served by focusing your time researching the high merit aid schools and their engineering programs. Down-select to your reach, likely, and safeties. Visit them all. We were surprised by the different feel on each campus.</p>
<p>Try UMD, College Park. Excellent Comp Sci program with a great engineering. East Coast like you wanted, and close to DC. You might qualify for the B/K scholly (full tuition, so only payment would be R+B).</p>