Room mate situations sometimes work if the personalities don't clash. A cheap used car and a part time job helps keep things going. Some schools have co-op work to school deals with study related employers depending on the courses you are taking. They are usually signed up for in sophmore year but some checking into that could open a door if someone dropped out of the program somewhere. I doubt that old people are the only ones that know all your options in todays campus life. Speaking with others in your age range casually about wanting to take a try at moving out of your parents place and flying independently might inform you about the multiple ways and means to accomplish your objectives.
If you leave home it's going to seem impossible at times but keep paddling anyway even if you're sinking. In the long view it's the only choice anybody ever really has.
