I went to Ringling College of Art and design, about the same price as SCAD and SVA. I personally found it worth it because I didn't start drawing as a thing I WANTED to do until about 17/18 years old (I'll be 25 in two weeks).
However understand while networking is key, it isn't going to make or break you. You'll have to work harder though most likely to get your name out there and become credible. That's really the main benefit you lose by not going to art school. A lot of people are NOT good at self marketing or promotion, so when they have to put themselves out there, it's harder. Having people who know you and your work before your graduate is always helpful and gives you a serious advantage in a lot of cases. Though, no matter who good your networks are, if your portfolio isn't up to snuff, you'll still be in a hole. XD
I graduated last May with my BFA in Illustration, and I also pursue/work in comics. Getting involved in social media as much as possible will be very very beneficial to you, especially things like LinkedIn where you make connections with other working professionals. You can follow companies and be notified when they post a job. It's a great place. I'd be happy to connect with you there if you like. You can be a student and get one there too. This way you can get to know people and as you post art, they can help critique it. Some companies like watching people improve over time and can be a great way to make an impression you work hard over a long period of time.
Also, when it comes to loans, well they are a part of it.
IF you can get grants and scholarships. Awesome, if they cover all your college, even better, but the odds are they won't. Mine didn't. Mine covered only half of the cost of my schooling, and I still owe about 70-90k. Having debt is a decision up to you and your family if they are going to help pay for college. Mine didn't, so it was my choice. I chose to take the risk and go into debt. People who are telling you that you'll have 5 years to pay of the loan are not in the right place and I have 10-30 and that's standard these days. They work with you and can adjust how much you pay based on your income (or the income of the person who has their name on the loan). So they don't just toss you out with no help in paying it or no flexibility. I've been paying mine for about a year, so I'm familiar with at least my company who loaned it to me and their policies.
Know though, that a degree isn't required. A lot of companies are strating to requires degrees through, like Bethesda who made Skyrim. So it varies on what company you want and what you want to do, but again, for most places, a degree isn't required, just a stunning portoflio!
I highly advise you go to a community college and take art classes there. See how you handle being told what to do in terms of art. Some people don't like being told what to do, because ESP in comics, you'll be working with other people and you'll have to be able to be part of a team. I work on a few teams, both for my own comic and with comics by others.
When it comes to school, work hard, but don't overwork yourself to prove a point. I worked hard enough I was almost withdrawn from school by force. I stopped eating, I stopped sleeping, I stopped drinking and was doing nothing but work and draw and school stuff. So go within your limits and if you see adverse effects, tone it down or talk to a doctor. Be as open minded as possible when it comes to subjects, some things might not seem relevant to you or what you are passionate about, but it can give you ideas. For example, I had to take a film class, though I was studying Illustration and comics, understanding and learning other ways of storytelling was epic! A lot of what I learned still applies to comics. Same with typography, using text the right way with images is important in comics. Using the wrong text, or putting the bubbles in the wrong place can disrupt the flow. Typography taught me how to use images with text.
I also and NOT a painter. I hate oils and acrylics. But I learned a lot about color theory in that class. So always be open minded to a lot of things, even if they initially seem ridiculous. Work hard and make friends with your teachers. They likely have connections and it'll benefit you to be open to them and their ideas. They'll give you good references later and possibly recommendation letters later.
If you ever need help or advice down the road, let me know bro! I've had 6 years or art college and two degrees, so I've been around that block before! lol
