Hi lucami: Well... I think there are several important considerations here. First, I'd just like to say, from my perspective, you're not too old at all... just sayin' (although I do understand your perspective.)

I think the important concerns here are with regard to what you would study, the cost, & what you would do after you had completed your studies. It would be great if one could just pursue knowledge for its own sake. But for most of us, this simply isn't reality. As you say, studies are expensive. And most of us need to be reasonably certain we'll be able to earn enough money to make the cost of our studies worthwhile.

Pursuing a course of study could certainly be uplifting for you if the subject is something you enjoy & can succeed at. But if not it could be a real downer too. So, as a former vocational rehabilitation counselor, I would suggest that before you proceed, you get some solid vocational & interest testing & counseling so that you can identify a course of study you would like to pursue, would likely succeed in, & might possibly help you to secure employment in once your studies are completed.

That said, from my perspective, I don't know that on-line studies would be the preferred option. I doubt there would be the kind of support there you're going to need. Of course I don't know much about you. So there may be considerations I'm not aware of. But my preference for you, based on what little I know, would be for you to become enrolled in a school that has an actual campus with real-life professors & students, etc. Then, if that school would offer options for taking classes on-line, as well as in person, so much the better. But I think it would be important for you to have access to academic advisors, school counselors, a real-life faculty, etc. Simply sitting alone at a computer, reading & typing out assignments, & sending them off to some unknown entity somewhere would not it seems to me be worth the money it would cost you. I know there are many schools that do business this way nowadays. And perhaps for some people it works. But I have to admit, for the most part, I'm skeptical.

Obviously I don't know how realistic any of this is for you. But I think the main point here is that what is of primary importance is planning. There's no point in jumping into some course of study, having no support system around you, having no idea where you're really going with it, & then floundering and failing. Success is what you're looking for here, & it is what will make the money you're going to spend worthwhile in the long run. Good luck!