I think with this topic (years to get degrees) people tend to get easily thrown off track by out of context hyperbole. The way I understand it, there is some system of points and some system of "red flags" at work here. I'd bet that taking much longer than 5 years to get a BA/BS degree would be a red flag.

So is every traffic ticket. So is a low GPA and a million other things.

But a red flag is just a "stop and investigate" point, rarely a show stopper. It took 6 years to get a BA/BS degree? OK, let's look at why? Maybe the applicant was working full time paying their own way while saving for flight lessons while helping care for an ill elder at home. Red flag…investigated…not only a negative but maybe even a positive.

A low GPA? Maybe it was a hard degree like engineering, plus the applicant grew up in a challenging environment and barely got into college in the first place and had to work 2 jobs during. Once they graduated though, they performed really well and went on to get a Master's degree with a high GPA. Red flag…investigated…not only a negative but maybe even a positive.

Now here's a guy that partied on daddy's money for 6 years while not working, barely graduated with a 2.0 in feelings, was always one ticket away from losing his license and only built flight time flying a new twin engine plane around for a couple years his parent's got him for his birthday. Then he goes to a regional but bypasses upgrade for years by choice (believe me, all airlines know when this is the case) takes a year long LOA to backpack around Europe to discover himself just because he's lazy while doing nothing to set himself apart and giving nothing back to the community. Numerous red flags…evaluated…thanks but no thanks.

I don't think very many red flags will exclude an applicant. In fact, in some cases they can end up being positives. Red flag doesn't mean no. It just means let's look into this and see what's up.