<p>I’m also in love with Astrophysics, and I also wanted to take some classes at a “nearby college”. The problem is, however, that unless your “nearby college” is a good school (like UChicago, for instance), the Astronomy/Astrophysics class would PROBABLY be a waste of time and money. The only thing you’ll learn would be: “Our Solar System has 9 planets and a sun”. Of course, it is an exaggeration, and I am sure professors there are aware of the fact that Pluto was plutoed, but nevertheless…
Of course I might be wrong - you are more familiar with your area and colleges in it, but in my honest opinion, the best way to “learn” Astronomy/Astrophysics is with a hands-on research or in a program (like [url=<a href=“http://www.ssp.org%5DSSP%5B/url”>www.ssp.org]SSP[/url</a>], for example).
Or, as you mentioned, you could take QM there - that’s fine.</p>
<p>I just felt like throwing in my two coins. =)
Good luck!</p>