I spent less than $20,000 on my degree and ratings because I worked my butt off and got a scholarship, therefore I did not spend a small fortune. As a matter of fact that debt is now gone. And the guys that pick up garbage where I live make far less than what I did last year, and much much less than I will this year. And my expectations don't stop at a regional. It is a stepping stone on my way to something bigger and better. The aviation career is a cyclical one, but if you are not smart enough to research what you get into before you get into it then you have no one to blame but yourself!