You can go to college pretty cheaply. First of all you start at a Community College for 3000 a year....so for two years we are up to 6,000 dollars. The second two years you go to a state school for 8,000 a year (if you can’t live at home). So the second two years is 16,000 dollars for a total of 22,000 dollars for a four year degree. The cost of a car. But the college education will ensure you a good salary for the rest of your life (if you are smart about it). Heck just having a degree at least gets you in the door for most interviews. Of course it will be tougher to get a good job with a Sociology Degree....you may be in the world of Non-Profits for your life, but again the person chose it. Remember Non-Profits pay more than McDonald’s.
One of our daughters started at community college, got a tutorial job, ran for the track team, and then obtained a full academic ride at a four year institution. By her senior year, she was earning $10K per year over and above expenses for being a teaching fellow and in return for work performed as an intern. She made money going to college, so it's quite doable.