Associates in Computer ... something?

[davewill]

OK, knowing that he's 22 and assuming he truly wants to be a software developer, I would recommend that he bite the bullet and do a traditional route. In-state public university, major in CS or CE (or EE if that's his thing). If there's a city in his state where tech is especially heavy, he should consider going to school there. Talented and hard-working students in these majors can generally find paid internships, so he doesn't have to feel like he's burying himself for 4 years. The networking opportunities are invaluable as well, those can turn into job and business opportunities. He can start in community college if he has to, but if he can manage to go directly to university, that would be better from an internship and employment point of view.

At 22, he can still fit into the environment with the advantage of being a little more mature than his classmates. This time will not come again.