If you're debt free right now and have modest cost of living, $25k is a seriously small hole to dig to get the degree if you can do it that way. I would do that in a heartbeat - that's a few months pay in your 2nd year at the majors.

I think it's worth your time to put some numbers down on paper with regard to forecast hiring, retirements and the future of regionals. I'll give you some off the cuff food for thought (worth what you're paying for it - zilch!) about the industry and the worth of the degree...

First, the hiring boom has already been going on for a few years now. By historic standards there's a pretty large number of pilots moving on - despite this successful transitions still represent a pretty small chunk of the overall regional pilot group. The next 3-5 years is still going to find more than a few pilots even with degrees not getting the call. "Piles of people" moving on doesn't mean everyone... just more than normal.

Second, without a degree, you're in the pool of regional pilots with no degree trying for the same job that your peers with a degree are trying for. You're at a disadvantage all other things being equal, and that degree pool is also probably trying to network and get hired by all means too. Perhaps you can overcome that with a great smile and the ability to engage in amazing conversations at hiring conferences... not all of us have that level of savviness - it does work for some.

Third, the regionals are shrinking and will continue to as majors up gauge 70 seat flying to 100+ seat mainline aircraft. A shrinking pool could mean less upgrade opportunity, more time on reserve, less QOL - I think it's worth the effort to use all available means to make the move.

Fourth as people get hired, you move up but people still filter in to regional jobs around you who have degrees... it's not a pool that's going to just dry up. Same concept with check airmen. If a bunch get hired from a regional, a bunch of new people fill those spots. If you're not one of them, you're always lacking that to them.

I suppose unless you're in a regional with a bulletproof flow through I'd get the degree without a second thought. At a minimum it will probably shave off a few years with can mean a ton for seniority and also means you'll pay that debt down pretty darn quickly.

Good luck!