Yes there are shelters for women (and their children) who cannot afford to live on their own. If you think you or your child is in any kind of danger at all from staying with him, I would suggest leaving now. Otherwise, try finishing school and getting your degree and then leaving him.
I've always had major anxiety every time I heard from the masses that something was hard (entrance exams, nursing classes, etc.) and time and time again I find that those people were wrong. You know what you're capable of academically.
I spent hours once searching online through episode guides for a specific Golden Girls episode that my patient ALWAYS talked about. Found it and brought it for her on DVD. She was so happy