A co-worker of mine went to engineering school. He started out getting a job as a technician at our company. Then he went to the local college (not ABET accredited) to get his pre-requisites out of the way. This college specializes in non-traditional studnts; and, there were lots of night classes and early morning classes. Our company also gave him some flexibility on his hours...and helped with tuition.
He worked like a dog for two years. Some of the plot stamps on things he plotted were at 2 in the morning, etc, because he was working such a crazy schedule. This whole time, he and his wife (and new baby) were doing the Dave Ramsey beans and rice lifestyle, to pile up a cash reserve. He used the cash reserve to take a two year break from work and go full time to an ABET acredited program.
And he graduated!
This guy came from nothing...dirt poor. And, he worked like crazy and greatly improved his life. I really admire him for that. I don’t know if I could have done it myself; but, he proved that it is possible to work through school these days.
I don't mean to take away from your co-worker's accomplishment. It is significant. And very few people have the discipline at a young age to do it.
Do you remember the total amount of time, from beginning to save up for college to getting his degree?