Just a suggestion not a persuasion. You may want to look at the military. Forget the negativity you see in the media. Look at it this way:
1. They will pay for college tuition through TA-totally separate from the GI Bill or any one of the service's college funds.
2. They will provide everything for you including medical and dental (meals, housing etc).
3. The salary is more than you make just starting out. Say you bust your balls and make E-5 then get out after 4 years. You are not in debt (hopefully), have a college fund (maybe) and GI Bill, and maybe have found the time using TA to get your GENED classes done. Plus, you hopefully will have grown up a little.
Now for the bad stuff the media hypes up. You deploy into harm's way. Now, with that said, here is the way I would suggest (I have been in for 14 years) to keep as far away from harms way (relatively) as possible. Remember nothing is guaranteed. Join the Navy or the Air Force, do your 4 years, and get out with benefits. It is a reasonable thing to do. Keep your nose clean and you will come out on top of your game, which means put up with all the BS with a smile. It will come to an end. Then, you'll be 23!! Very young, but ready to go get that education you want and not have to worry about making ends meet.
Or, you can be 23 and so far in debt because you have to pay for education, no matter what you go for.
Granted this is not the only way. Any way you choose will require work and sacrifice.
By the way, you may not want to hear this, but I have this conversation with my young Sailors all the time (male or female). DO NOT GET MARRIED YET!!! Have the significant other, fine, but keep it that way. If you are right for each other, then it won't matter if you wait. Think about the consequences if you are wrong.
Hell, you may have to wait until my age until you get your life straightened out...
Wittmandriver