I only spent 32,000 for my four year degree. That was in 1996. It is now 89,000 for a four year degree, in state. 120,000 for out of state. If I was graduating high school today, I would not be going to college where I did. I also would not be a pilot if I had to pay today's prices for my ratings. I paid 40.00/hr for a 172, it costs around 95.00/hr now. The barriers to entry are increasing without a corresponding reward.

IronWalt's example of 19,000 in 1987 would be about 34,000 today. Prices have more than doubled for everything from cars, houses, rent, college, ratings, etc. Everything costs more but the pay in our industry is stagnant or going backwards (legacies compared to pre-2001 pay). Skyhigh has a point, if I was looking at getting into it today I would have to pass.