@coolguy40. Some OOS and privates can actually be less expensive then instate or very close BTW. Many of those can actually be safeties also.
PSU is a great school, but don’t know specifics of their aero program.
Purdue’s aero is very well known, as a prior poster mentioned.
But both of these are difficult to get to from the west coast.
Ohio State is near a great airport, and at least as of a few years ago, was trying to increase their OOS enrollment by being generous with merit aid to entice students, often bringing the cost down to $25k-ish. And the engineering / aero programs are excellent.
I don’t think you can call CU Boulder aerospace a safety. I’m pretty sure you will be admitted to CU, and probably engineering, but aerospace is really tough.
Safeties: Alabama-Huntsville, Embry-Riddle (Daytona or Arizona), Florida Tech, Illinois Tech, SUNY Buffalo
I also think you would be admitted but the Aerospace program at CU is a top 10 program and therefore attracts a lot of highly qualified candidates, it is easily the toughest program to get into at CU so I would consider it more of a match then a safety.