First of all, if a school is not affordable based on NPC, do not apply to that school (ED or else). Unless you are eligible to large merit aid that is not included in the calculation. Second, if you are depending on financial aid and want to compare FA packages, you should not apply ED at all.
@jclwriting : if you can get into the Honors College and Honors Dorms, then it would be worth it (and still within budget) for you to live on campus at UMass. The experience would be much more satisfying for you and it’d be a good compromise.
If you like Brown, look at LACs with a similar profile and merit aid, both in New England and the MidAtlantic (Dickinson, Muhlenberg, Skidmore, St Lawrence, for instance).