"little to none of you recommend getting a degree in this line of work which is somewhat mind-boggling."

It won't be mind boggling once you are sitting in our shoes and looking back on it. Everyone has their own opinion, but going to Riddle, and an aviation degree, were about the biggest mistakes in my career, so far.

"I'd probably go with criminal justice, as a lot of you have said the degree doesn't matter, just have one."

That's a solid plan B back up. I have a friend who is a Dash 8 Capt who did the same.