If he waits until he’s 24 he is independent for financial aid purposes and if he doesn’t have a good paying job he may get a lot. Before people scream at me “he should pay his own way”, just know that colleges get a certain amount of aid and if he doesn’t get it someone else will. If he worked p/t and took some community college courses (gen Ed stuff usually needed everywhere) until he were 24 he’d have a leg up and could apply to a 4 year school and get some good aid.
It seems that the prevailing thought is that community college is a good place to start with his core educational / pre-engineering courses.
I wasn't aware of the 24 year old financial aid issue. I can likely help him get through two years of community college and then let him secure his own federal education loan for whichever engineering school he attends.
I'll be sending him to the community college adviser on Monday.