When your mother says “I can make it work”, you may want to find out what it means in terms of:
A. Your parents’ retirement funding. Will paying for the more expensive college force them to retire significantly later than the would otherwise, or possibly require support from you when they retire?
B. College for any younger siblings you have. If you have any younger siblings, would your parents be able and willing to pay for the more expensive college for you and comparably expensive college for them without destroying their retirement funding (question A)?