My degree is in Laser/Electro-optics technology. I've worked in the field for a little over 9 years. Very little of my degree transferred to the new college system since I switched states so I had to start over. School is very inexpensive here and my employer pays 75% of all costs. I'm planning on transferring to an in-state 4-year school in about 1 year. I'll be transferring in as a Junior and will only have my major classes to complete. All of my Gen-eds will be done at that time. With my work paying 75% of my schooling, I'll only have to pay out around $5k per year. Surprisingly, cost is not the biggest factor because I will likely get at a minimum a raise equal to what I spend each year on school. It seems to be a solid investment for me. It's just very tiring.
I will be reducing my course load to PT. I definitely will not do well in my courses if I continue FT. I really like my current job but I like learning and taking on new projects too. When I finish my degree, I can replace myself and move on to a higher paying position in Engineering or continue up the management chain. I am very close with the CEO and my boss, I have worked very hard for the company and consider myself a very valuable employee. I plan to stick with the company I work for now for a long time.
My FIRE is on track for ~12 years at my current rate. This will decrease a bit because I will get raises throughout that time, especially if I finish my degree. If I go down to part time, it may take me closer to 4 more years to complete my Bachelor's degree. It just seems like a really long time of not having much free time. *Throws awesome pity party*
Has anyone been through this? Is there a light at the end of this tunnel?