If possible, get the business first and then work on the degree after you're established a bit. Otherwise you'll be saddled with debt and still locked out of the industry due to "lack of experience".At least that's been my experience so far... 

Then again, maybe the job market for digital based graphics work where I am isn't so hot. (Based on classifieds, I would have been a lot better off with HVAC or CDL, lol.) So your milage may vary...

Also if you have any relatives or friends at a studio or a business doing in-house production, it'll help weigh the odds greatly in your favor. Networking will do more for you than a degree when it comes to creative work. (I've seen it in action. I've also seen trust trump talent.) Work on developing your portfolio, and if you can manage and keep track of things on your own - freelance. In this case a degree is only good after you get your foot in the door and want to move up in pay.

And for the questions:
1.) B.S. Graphic arts... (Why Bachelor of Science and not fine arts? Probably more process than craft directed courses at my school...  Who knows?)
2.) Almost had a good client. May have been good money if I could have got their site developed to go live. Problem was they were expecting more than my level (I still need to pick up some things that classes didn't cover. Stuff for Flash and server side scripting that would crossover more into programming/CIS mostly.) Also they wanted video on the site, another guy was doing that, and I had nothing to work with. But the worst part was no feedback (not even anything negative even), and trying to keep on them to access a web server and do work without any upfront wasn't worth it. They didn't even try to stay on my radar, so I dropped off theirs so to speak. Doesn't stop me from looking around though.

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Barbequed Pixels?

Your friendly neighborhood Wings3D nut.
Also feel free to browse my freebies at ShareCG.
There might be something worth downloading.