<p>Yeah, your story is about the same as mine was, although I only moved to one state, and it caused me to wait until I was 30 to finally start classes towards my BA. My problem, though, was that my dad wouldn’t give me his tax returns to show that he hadn’t claimed me on them in two years, so I couldn’t qualify for in-state tuition until I was 24, which was 5 years after I moved there. By then I was already working my way up to a decent career for a 20-something in a good firm, so I didn’t think I needed college. Anyway…</p>
<p>Possible solution, especially if you are in California and qualify as a resident: take one or two classes at your local community college just to get started and pay for them yourself. If you are in CA and a CA resident, it shouldn’t cost more than a couple of hundred dollars, including books, for two classes each semester. After a couple of years, you’ll have some credits on your transcript and can then apply for financial aid as an independent student. No, your FA won’t be terrific the first year of aid, but it should get better since your income will go down when you are in school full time. And you might be able appeal your expected student contribution for the first year.</p>
<p>If you don’t yet qualify as a resident of your chosen state, start taking steps NOW to become one by the time you are 24 and independent.</p>