Your concern about bumping into HS classmates is a common one for kids applying to in-state schools. The desire to try something new is completely understandable. If you go to Clemson, you will be in a place with largely SC students, and with Penn, PA students. I truly think that you will find your place in any of the three schools. The campus is large, and first years are spread out all over the place. Also, you will find that people disperse as they hit college and develop separate lives. That said, the concept of “fit” is real, and you need to decide if those feelings/expectations will negatively shape your experience at JMU if you attend. My older son had the same concern about JMU, and wound up in South Carolina/Columbia. Ironically, he realized in his last few months of school that a classmate who he never knew before was attending USC, they hit it off, and will be rooming together sophmore year… For us, the cost of attendance was very close for in v. out of state. In your case, you are looking at an exceptional difference in cost. I don’t think that any of these schools supports a $25k a year difference in price. Even assuming that you have a way to borrow that type of money, it will take you forever to pay that back. Based on what you have described as your intended course of studies, I don’t think that the difference in school is worth it. Congrats on some wonderful acceptances.