Which degree route would be best?

[sanantone]

I think that the most important thing is to have a plan and minimize risk.  There are many people in the world who pick unhappy careers, make a lot of money and then retire happily.  If you can take it, this might be a good option.  Taking on a lot of debt for a degree with poor job prospects is probably an unacceptable risk, but if you keep costs low, you can make it work.  Just save money and invest in low-cost index funds.

There is no way in hell I would pick a career that made me unhappy.  That's nuts.  You have 20-30-40 years, 8+ hours a day, 5 days a week doing something you hate?  No thank you.

There is a TON of space in between choosing a low-paying career that you love, and a high-paying one that you hate.  Find something between those 2 things and you're fine.

Especially since most people won't retire until they're 70 in the future. I'd hate for my happiest years to be when I'm close to death. 

I always tell people to figure out what they enjoy doing and find jobs that use those skills. Do you like art? Look into graphic design, game design, or web design. Do you like writing? Look into technical or grant writing.