Thank you all for your responses! She did graduate from HS. She has a high school diploma in addition to her associate’s degree. Her GPA and ACT score were good but not outstanding, a 3.5 and a 24.
Some of you suggested she live with her dad. He lives in rural Georgia. I don’t know how realistic moving in with him would be for her (she’s seen him like 3 times since the age of 7). But I will suggest that to her. I’ll also have her check and see if her bank has a tuition program.
Lately she’s been talking about enrolling in one of those online colleges (the phoenix one I think?) as a cheaper alternative. Still, those cost a couple thousand.
Tell her to avoid for-profit schools. I think the Univ. of Phoenix is one, but there are others. I don’t think their degrees are worth much.
I think that she would be better served attending a brick an motar college (or doing online classes at a brick and motar school). I think that the last thing she needs to do is classes at a for profit university (UOP), especially if she has to borrow and pay for it her self.
Will she be able to commute to the 4-year school?
The online/for profit colleges are usually ripoffs. Not a good choice for your friend, or for anyone.
If she has had so little contact with father since age of 7, that is almost certainly not going to work. Unless she is willing to move to Georgia and claim him as primary custodial parent. But I am not even sure of the legality of that, and doubt she’d want to go anyway.
Probably the best solution I’ve seen on this thread was on post #6. Part-time at Boise State and borrow what she can until she turns 24, then begin to go full-time.
I agree that checking into the tuition remission that might be offered if she were to apply for a job at Boise State is a good idea. Also, if she’s considering an online college, have her look at the University of Maryland, University College. It’s the adult and distance learning college within the Maryland State System, it is not a for-profit school, it’s accredited, and used by the military for their students who are deployed. As a student you must be disciplined and focused, but it can be a great alternative to traditional brick-and-mortar college.
I worked there in the 80s and my husband put in 26 years developing their distance degree programs. I also have a cousin who went to college via UMUC. She had to go part time as she could afford it, but they were great when she needed just a little bit more help along the way. (She was a straight A student, so that probably helped.) It took her nine year to get her B.S., but she says it was worth every minute.