Advice to start path investing while return for 3rd yr of college

[Jay Dominique]

I'm 28 & I've decided to go back to college & finish my civil engineering degree (it'll take about 2-2.5 years). The reason I'm going back to college is because I have a good interest (not a passion) in structural engineering & more importantly it gives me a W2 & a great starting income needed to invest (which I lack currently). I'm moving in with a family member so I can go to school full time without taking out a loan or at the most taking out a small loan for my final year. 

I've been a full time realtor for the last 3 years (25+ sales & 25+ leases) & will not be continuing part time. I've found going the entrepreneurship option hasn't worked out for me after putting in time & effort in my early 20's. My goal is to own a real estate portfolio through buying & holding which cash flows after expenses $120k a year in the next 10 years or sooner [Beginning with house hacking my first 2-3 deals]. From there I would either continue as a full time engineer [continuing to build my portfolio] or full time real estate investor [whichever I find more fulfilling]. I've listened to 20+ bp podcasts [& still listening], starting to gather more books specifically related to real estate investing/wealth building & I also have the real estate experience through being a real estate agent.

Is there anything I can do as a part time job while I'm in school that will put me in a better position to invest once out of school? 

The biggest challenge I'm having is what do I do for the next 2.5 years to either get into investing or prepare for it? [2.5 years seems like a really long time before I'm in a good financial position to make my first investment.]