Thank you for your devotion to the Catholic faith and pursuing a religious vocation.
It sounds like each diocese has different guidelines so be sure that you are truly well versed in yours. Have you spoken to the Vocations Director in your diocese?
Our current priest was trained first as an elementary school teacher. He is especially well-versed in faith formation. Two of the most recently ordained priests in the local area of our diocese (of Gaylord MI) studied first as engineers. Our last Bishop was an attorney before heading to the seminary. He was from Pittsburgh originally.
Based on what I have learned as my son discerns his vocation is that he should pursue what interests him in addition to his faith and go to seminary after receiving his undergraduate degree in anything from accounting to theater to zoology.
Two college friends of mine from became priests after finishing degrees in architecture. They are both in Maryland. I second that you should speak to a vocational director about the paths that are open to you, and your real concerns about costs. Good luck.
Latin and Greek are no longer required at most seminaries unless you intend to go into Canon Law, but many seminarians chose to study Latin.
You do NOT have to take theology as an undergraduate. Theology courses are required at the graduate level in seminary.
You can major in almost any subject at the undergraduate level, although a degree in philosophy will be very beneficial.
You can enter the seminary after your undergraduate degree. Most dioceses cover tuition/rome and board for seminarians.
There are many other orders to consider beside becoming a diocesan priest.
How active are you in your current parish? You do not seem to have the full knowledge of requirements or options. I strongly suggest you start a conversation with your parish priest who can help pave the way with you through the chancery office
I am posting a link to St. Bonaventure’s program with the Franciscan order, OFM. It explains undergraduate 2 years of discernment, courses, student life for those in this program, and cost. It is to give you one example of options. Again, I urge you to investigate options to see if you may have a calling to priesthood and how you may be able to fulfill that calling.
I think it’s wonderful that you are considering the priesthood. I’m wondering if there are special scholarships and tuition rate cuts to encourage students like you? It might be worth looking through a list of Catholic schools to see if there is aid available.
Maybe someone on this forum knows of some.