Wilco is giving you terrible advice.

Get the degree. If you don't get a 4 year degree when getting your ratings you will need an extra 500 hours to get hired which will take pretty much as long as getting the 4 year degree. The bonus will be you won't be limiting yourself forever to save a year or two up front. The major forum is the wrong place to ask because even the new guy at UAL or DAL etc are 5-10 years removed from being in college, let alone entering college. Good luck. (Business Degree, RATP Look it up)