Replying to Mountaineering this summer

So my friend and I are looking to do some mountaineering this summer. Our overall goal is to summit mount Rainer. Both of us have a little backpacking experience and some gym-based rock climbing. I was looking for some tips or guidance. I'm a college student so I can't afford a $2000 guided hike/class on Ranier but I also want to do this right and do it safely. If someone could either point me in the direction of a cheaper safety course or if any of you wanna teach us anything that would be great. Also, what would be some good gear to invest in and what are some good training hikes in the pnw? Any advice is helpful.