3-5 years ago I’d say you’d be 100% correct. Today absolutely NOT, all legacies are hiring a a significant number of pilots without 4 year degrees. The 97% number you quote was true before the pandemic. Today it’s much lower. It would be massively lower but the fact that most pilots qualified already have 4 year degrees.

Pre pandemic 17,000 qualified pilots applications on file with all the legacies and LCC’s. Today less then 2,000 and they are in marginally qualified at best.

Legacies hiring 2000 hours no degree and no turbine PIC - LCC’s a hiring 1500 CFI’s. It’s all about a seniority number get it fast before all the massive hiring ends.