Help me choose between engineering/physics undergrad

[Latecomer]

Hello, I apologize if this topic has been beaten to death but I think my situation is a bit unique as I'm a bit of a non-traditional student.
I'm 31 and I'm still working towards my degree. I actually made a post on here a couple of years back; one of those "am I too old"? posts. Well, slowly but surely I'm working towards getting my degree, albeit part-time at the moment. I'm about a year away from being financially stable to the point where I'll finally be able to go full-time ( my wife will finally be done with school and is looking at a good, stable salary). I've been able to maintain good grades, taking a class or two each semester while working and taking care of my children.
Well, it's getting close to the point where I'll be looking to transfer to a 4-year uni and I'm at the point where I need to become more focused on which degree I'll be aiming for. I love physics, and an astrophysics phd was my ultimate goal, but I really wonder if a graduate physics degree is realistic. (It's my understanding that you don't really want to do an undergrad physics degree unless you're going to grad school).
I'm wondering if I should do an engineering undergrad degree. I spent 12 years as an electrician, both working with the tools and also running jobs and project managing. I'm wondering if this background would be beneficial when it comes to finding jobs with an engineering degree? On the same token, I'm guessing that this 12 years of work would be useless when I'm applying for a physics/lab job or for physics/astrophysics grad schools?
Money isn't much of an issue, but at the same time I don't want to finish a 4 year physics degree and not be able to do much with it.
If I do an aerospace engineering degree (this is where I'm leaning if I do engineering) will I be at a serious disadvantage compared to a physics undergrad if I was to apply to an astrophysics/physics grad program? My thinking is that if I am unable to get into grad school that at least my undergrad engineering degree, combine with 12 years as an electrician, will be far more employable than my 4 year physics degree.

The way I understand it:

Aerospace Eng. Pro's:

More employable undergrad degree
past 12 years of career would be (somewhat) applicable (the fact that I'll be in my mid-30's when I'm finished with my 4 year degree weighs in here, also)
would still enable me to pursue a physics/astrophysics grad progarm

Cons:

Not my true passion, although I would still be happy with it (much happier than my current construction job)
May be at a disadvantage to get into an physics/astrophysics program

Also, can anyone point me towards some info about engineering physics programs and whether or not this is really a viable alternative?
Thank you for your time.

 

[wilsont23274]

Engineering Physics is a great option for you if you have a background in physics. It combines the analytical and problem-solving skills of engineering with the theoretical and fundamental knowledge of physics. Many universities offer Engineering Physics programs, where you can specialize in fields like aerospace engineering, nuclear engineering, materials science, and more. You may be able to use your experience as an electrician to supplement your studies in a related field. The advantage of pursuing an Engineering Physics degree is that you will have a very diverse skill set, which could be useful in a variety of careers. Additionally, if you choose to pursue a graduate degree, you will have a strong foundation in both engineering and physics which could be beneficial. In terms of getting into a physics/astrophysics program, it will depend on the individual program and how competitive it is. If you are considering an Engineering Physics degree, you should research the different programs available and see which one best suits your interests and goals.