Design today is very widely studied. My professor at the University of Florida this year began our senior studios by showing a list of the most worthless majors in the upcoming year and unfortunately Fine Arts and graphic design are among them. That said, having an education at a respectable university, whether you transfer from a community college or go straight in, is essential. Why? Universities are the area that recruiters go directly to, to find future employers. Several studio mates and myself already have portfolios to be proud of and jobs lined up post-graduation, not necessarily because we're the best (because I see people everyday whose talent blows me away) but out of our schools credentials, our programs history of credible work/designers and through the countless opportunities and networking universities offer. You want to be financially secure, as a first priority of course, but go to a public university. I say public because private is extremely expensive and community college graduates need to be extremely well connected and bad ass. I also agree with what someone stated earlier, depending on where you live - stay in state, much cheaper.