What’s the COA difference then over 4 years? I remember that the South Carolina schools charged a lot for OOS tuition, so even 1 year of that could make the difference rather small.
Oakland does well but I don’t see how it clearly opens doors like some of the research powerhouse schools.
Is it your direct family there then or relatives? Relatives can be nice help still, but it obviously is less impactful than a close relationship with parents or a sibling who would be right there.