Have you seen the cost of even the cheapest online degree? I for one wouldn't even consider going $30k or more in debt when only two or three airlines still ask for one and soon won't. Needing a degree is a thing of the past for pilots. Also, what kind of guy goes around saying pilots who don't have a degree are lazy? I have many pilot friends who do not have degrees for many reasons and have great jobs with the majors. There can be many reasons... They started working straight out of school or had a poor family (no, there is not always government loans or help for everyone), etc. Heck, some people just don't want to do it because it's of no interest to them at whatever point in their life. Some people have a family to raise and refuse to strap their household with massive college debt for a degree that makes them only slightly more competitive. I think you rate college degrees for pilots much higher then what exists in reality. It's really shameful that you'd have that view and quite frankly, ignorant.