I'm now a full time student in an animation program (really just wanted Computer animation, but it's a "general" animation program... Whatever) Well, i picked up this catalogue for software, you get it discounted if you're in school. For instance, the price of the Adobe Video Suite (now with Illustrator!!) is about 1/3 of it's full price for students! Then there's the 1 year license for 3ds max (probably what I'll end up getting 2 years in a row when I finally start my modeling and animating) for 180 bucks, and the complete Maya Package for about 300 (full price 2000 dollars) The only requirement is that you're a student, I'm pretty sure... You could be a major in underwater basketweaving and get it if you have a valid college ID.
http://www.journeyed.com/
A guy I lived with said he wanted to help me with my animation, but I was thinking Max full price... Well, I think I can tell him about the 1 year licenses for Max, and I can get a year from him... ^_^ After that, I can save up for the Adobe Video Suite... *starts drooling* Um... *slurp* I'm gonna go now...
O'course, it's still rather expensive, but 300 verses 2000? 600 verses 1600? Yeah...