I am not trying to be mean here, but it looks like you are trying to eat caviar on deviled egg budget.
I feel your pain. We are in a similar financial situation. Too much income for need and too little to just write a check. Not willing to mortgage the family’s future for high levels of debt due to college.
D1 is doing the searches now. You are going to come to the realization at some point that you either need to adjust your targets or get used to some disappointment. There are a great many schools that will give you money with decent grades (3.5+) and a 27+ ACT. They are willing to give money because they may be in seemingly less desirable areas.
Maybe you should consider actually looking at Tuscaloosa or one of the many other great college towns in the Central US. You may discover that they are not the backwaters you seem to think they are. Keep an open mind, it will serve you well.