I would have taken a public sector job. Any job in my town of West Seneca. Pay & Bennies unbelievable
74-75 I dropped out of UB and wasted a partial scholarship. Went back to ECC in Engineering in 77 and got a job in that field working 5 days a week and half day Saturday, and 4 full nights a week at ECC. Graduated and continued on at Buff State until I got my BS in Dec/83. To this day I fully remember walking off that campus for the last time. Such a burden removed. 7 full years of no life basically. I recall going to bed on Sunday night thinking I have nothing to look forward to until the next Saturday night. Not sure how I ever did it, the last year with a wife and house that needed work
If you take 1-2 courses each semester the load isn't as bad, but takes you a long time to get done. Good luck with whatever you do