Starr,
Hang in there and do what you need to do to protect your peace of mind. College common rooms and libraries are a great place to get away from him if/when you have to....lots of studying to do....and there's no reason you should have to put up with one minute of his drunken raving. The world belongs to you. Walk away, and walk further away if you have to...
I went back to school at 45 to try to get the degree I'd never been able to get before (I was too busy taking care of everybody else) You will do fine. Talk to the college's financial aid office. I discovered there were lots of programs for people like me -- women going back to school, older women, women who were the first in their family line to go for a degree...you might be surprised what they can dig up.
All the best,
GL