I visited ERAU (Embry Riddle Aeronautical University) early this year, where I was told that total course fees in the order of US$110,000 are typical. It's not a state-funded university so you'll end up paying exactly the same as a local student, it's just that you'll have to look elsewhere for any financial aid.
As for the shortsighted thing, basically I've worked in the aerospace industry since I left school at 18 (with a couple of gaps to do degrees - in aeronautics) at various times have been involved in military and civil flight testing, military and civil ground testing, aircraft design, certification, training, education, ferrying, air transport, maintenance, management, spacecraft design, writing about most of the above and a few other things. Every one of those jobs was fascinating and rewarding - so I don't believe that flying up the front of a big-jet is by any means the only rewarding job in this industry.
This is not to say that there's anything wrong with airline flying, it's just that there are very few jobs in this industry that I wouldn't rather be doing than, say, being an accountant or pharmacist.
Aviation and aerospace are fun in all flavours (although admittedly some jobs in it pay better than others, and all have their frustrations).
G