"I know many pilots strongly discouraged getting an aviation degree, but that's what I really want to do."
You think you're the only one who wanted to do nothing but fly?
Listen to those pilots and the pilots here, get a non aviation degree and get a skill/education that will help you when, not if, WHEN the economy takes another dive.
I recently spoke to a 747-400 captain who has been flying since the 70s, he told me throughout his career he had seen the economy take a dive 3 times. 1990, 2001 (9/11/01) and 2008 (housing/financial) crisis. He said finding a job was so difficult when all he had to show for it was an aeronautical science degree, he graduated from riddle.