applied for and received a grad assistantship that paid half the cost, and employer paid the rest because I sold the proposal to the employer on how my degree could help them. got the GA because of the unique skills I brought from my employer that related to the degree program. this was in my 40s.
also got my undergrad after I married and had kids, student loans and scholarships combined, at that time however the entire financial aid apparatus was much different than today. key was that at the time aid package included child care, which enabled me to work by FT job, and again my employer, because I made a good case for it, helped fund part of my tuition.