<p>I think going to cosmetology school or the like and living with a friend sounds like a great idea! That’s exactly like something I had in mind. </p>
<p>Lookingforward, there are plenty of adults even with kids in this country working for minimum wage and making it work. I would encourage the OP to still try to pursue some form of an education while doing that. But as of right now, her choices seem to be to stay with her controlling parents indefinitely and get an online degree. If she is going to get an online degree or a CC degree anyways, she should at least be free of them.</p>