<p>Ok this is the complete opposite of what everyone else is telling you, but your best option is to go the the very best private school you can get into. Most of the top-tier private schools have loan free financial aid available, especially if you come from a low income family. I’m kind of in the same predicament as you, and I’m trying to go to Vanderbilt. They guarantee to meet 100% of your need with loan-free aid, so basically, if you get in, you don’t have to worry about money. They calculate your EFC, and sometimes that’s higher than you think it should be, but in most cases they’re pretty reasonable. I think if you study for your SAT/ACT and bring your score up a little, you could be a competitive applicant at schools like this, and you’d be getting the best of both worlds: a great education for very little money</p>