In defense of @gearmom, even 1% is higher than 0%
Seriously, the best advice on this thread so far is from @austinmshauri: it is going to be very, very hard for you to get an affordable choice in the US. Ruling out any school for either of those reasons doesn’t make sense. Rule them out on affordability, likelihood of success, specific programs, etc. Then, when you have actual choices, you can consider how safe you will feel from anything that goes bump in the night.
Also, @GuessME5, are you internationally ranked at Chess?
@collegemom3717, thank you for the advice. I appreciate it. Yes, I’m internationally ranked, rated in Chess.
With that + your stats you might look at some of the LACs that meet need- search for ‘meets full need’. Also, you may be able to get waivers on the application fees.
@collegemom3717, I checked out the LACs. Except Oberlin (MA), Trinity (TX) & Southwestern University (TX), all others require CSS Profile of NCP.
CSS NCP Waivers - not to hopeful either.
Well, @GuessME5, our friends daughter was mugged three times her first year at Fordham. She ended up transferring to BU. OBVIOUSLY, she was walking outside the gated campus during the daytime. Perhaps, you are planning to hide out on campus and not explore NYC???
@gearmom, no, not at all.
@GuessME5 You are probably more street smart. You probably wouldn’t walk around talking on your $800 phone. But you did ask. My cousin who attended Pratt was also mugged several times. Just seems to go with the area. But you did ask about safety so I’m just letting you know.
@GuessME5 Oberlin is in Ohio, not Massachusetts.
@gearmom, thank you for enlightening about such unfortunate cases. Safety is important, too, considering it’s NYC. I’d also rather use a $50 phone, like I’m already doing now. No need for a $800.
@madgemini4, thanks for pointing out the error. How did Oberlin all of a sudden ended up in Massachusetts?!
Maybe a ghost did it? 
ONLY JOKING!!! 
Where on earth are you hearing stories about haunted campuses? I have spent nearly my entire life in the northeastern US, an area full of colleges and universities, and have never once heard of a haunted campus. Don’t believe every story you hear, particularly from people who live half a world away from the supposed haunting (and maybe don’t want you to go to college in the US?) and DEFINITELY don’t believe everything you read just because you googled it. You can assume stories like US News rankings of haunted campuses are meant to be fun and tongue in cheek, not serious journalism or reliable reporting of actual ghosts.
Miami University requires you to live on campus your first two years. Your housing plan is a non-starter. Being required to live on campus for at least part of your time is a very common requirement.
@millie210, thank you for the insight. If that’s the case with Miami, I’ll have to reconsider some options then. Wish if there was full ride available there rather than the half hearted option of full tuition. BTW, I love the Northeastern USA.