Being broke and 25 is actually to your advantage in this situation. When you fill out the Fafsa, they'll go by your income & net worth, not your parents, so you'll qualify for more financial aid. Also, since you're 25, you can probably get some credit for life experience (I believe the Feinstein Campus in PVD has a program). You can also take the CLEP tests for a number of classes, which is faster & cheaper than taking an actual course. Talk to an advisor at URI, and they'll help you figure it out. If you have any difficulties in your background (substance abuse, homelessness, etc) there are scholarships specifically to help you get an education and build your life. You can definitely do this!