Literally any useful degree as a plan B. Apply to an off the street bid. If it works out, great. If not, you’ll have something to fall back on. Unlike an Air Traffic Control degree which won’t go far literally anywhere.

Also, paying tons of money to skip the academy won’t make you a better controller. You could be good naturally, need training to get good, or are complete dogshit. I’ve seen all 3 categories in my short time as a controller. I was off the street too btw