I'm doing a degree too, a 4 year Bachelor of Design of which I'm half way through. I got a Diploma in Visual Arts on the way too.
It's really helped me in so many ways.
We have an open uni setup here in NZ, called Open Polytechnic. I tried it for a couple of papers about five years ago but the learning style didn't suit me. Now I go to Uni and I've found the connections I've made have helped me grow so much. In fact, I've grown in so many ways when I look back starting higher ed was a real turning point in my recovery:0)