First, I welcome you in your quest.
Second. Unless you have a large sum of disposable capital be prepared to starve for awhile. I made $225 a week when I began.
I'm prolly making about the same now that I'm self employed.
Equipment costs are huge. Schools are great to some extent. They also fill a guy's head with delusional thoughts. I was once the ram rod at Nesika Bay Precision. They gave me 5 first year graduates from G/S school. With the exception of two, it was the worst experience of my life.
Your NOT going to graduate and slide into a 50K a year job. Never happen.
Not trying to discourage, just being realistic. Product liability insurance, overhead, leases, inventory tax, use tax, state/federal witholdings, etc will erode your bottom line quickly.
Be creative, be dilligent, and be frugal.
Good luck.
C