[MilnerRoute]

What you want is a job (not a degree).

You could try working towards that. Just, writing code -- creating a portfolio of your work in a GitHub repository. Volunteering on open source projects (which also doubles as networking). And also, taking classes because you want to learn something -- not because you want the degree. Then you'll actually use what you're learning, and your skills will be fresh if/when an opportunity comes along.

Also: there are, like, 16-week code schools that are free (for a cut of your future salary). People have mixed opinions.

But the point is: once you get your first paid programming job, you have a lot more options, and the rest of your career gets a whole lot easier.