The bachelors degree is the new high school diploma. Not that it is easy to get, or that the people that have them didn't work hard to get them, but in the US today you pretty much need it to even enter the ring.

I don't think these companies are saying that you aren't qualified, by not having the degree. However, I think they would rather employ the type of people and personalities that they find in people that possess the education. The reason they don't care what your degree is in is because they want the lessons that you learned while obtaining your degree. They want the dedication, work ethic, maturity, time management and so on.

As someone else mentioned, there should absolutely be a more in depth training program to be an 121, or even a 135 pilot. Washington should take a really good look that the ATPL and consider it here.