<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I need to get some opinions on this. I'm 28 years old and have a technical certificate in my career but have recently decided to return to school to pursue a degree in engineering. I have a few credits from community college, but nothing substantial. I know that getting a degree in engineering requires lots of work and can be difficult. I do not want to take 7-8 years and could potentially get it done in 3 if I go full time. The problem is, my parents will not give me any money towards this so I would have work full time.</p>
<p>Is it feasible (or even possible) to cover all educational and living expenses through financial aid? I fully realize that this would incur 10s of thousands of dollars of debt, but I firmly believe it is well worth it to A) not overburden myself between work/classes and B) get it done in half the time.</p>
<p>Everything depends on where you study. Do you qualify for a scholarship of some kind? Can you live at home for free while you study? Can you commute to a super-economical in-state school?</p>
<p>One way to do this as inexpensively as possible would be to complete the first two years of engineering at a community college. Pay a visit to the one closest to you and ask about their articulation (guaranteed transfer) agreements for engineering. Chances are they have one.</p>
<p>I’m not sure if I qualify for any scholarships. I will be living at home while I go to a community college, which would only take about a year and half. I plan on going to USF, which is about an hour and a half away and I refuse to make that commute every day and lose so much time and will probably move close to/on to campus. Are you saying ask the CC about the transfer agreement?</p>
<p>USF does not meet need, and depending on your income, you may be offered nothing more than Stafford loans. You cannot borrow more than about $7,500 per year through the Stafford program.</p>
<p>Is there any chance there is an engineering program that has a coop program? That way you would go to school for a term…then work for a term…alternating until you graduate. This could really reduce your costs. Another option…and DH did this…find a program that has primarily evening and weekend classes…and work at least part time (DH did this AND went to a school with a coop engineering program…and he was about your age).</p>
<p>Where do I find these schools that meet need?</p>
<p>Very few schools meet full financial need of their students, and all of them are highly competitive for admissions.</p>
<p>A list can be found here:</p>
<p>[Need-blind</a> admission - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“Need-blind admission - Wikipedia”>Need-blind admission - Wikipedia)</p>