@Girlwitharabbit, it’s great that you are so proactive about your college future. With fededal aid, having two in college might help, not sure how that works with state aid in OH.
We are in PA and I was surprised that we received a state grant when we did not qualify for Pell.
You are wise to focus on merit aid, especially with your dad’s fluctuating income. That way you have a plan for 4 years independent of income changes.
Does Ohio University or Miami of Ohio have your major? Would you qualify for merit there? U Dayton?
You can run a few net price calculators on instate schools just to see what the costs would be.
But if you get that NCCU scholarship, that would be hard to beat.