The difference between a high school degree and an AA degree is insignificant with regard to flying. You still have basically no chance of being hired at a major. If you are going to commit 2 years, you minus well go all out and get a bachelors degree.


I am so surprised at the number of questions I keep getting about college degrees. Why does everyone want to skip college? Education is so important. Especially with regard to flying, it is a ticket to the good jobs in aviation (major airline, cargo, corportate, etc...). WITHOUT a 4 year college degree, you WILL NOT have a good shot at these. And believe me you will be kicking yourself when you are stuck at a regional, making 90k, when you know you could be doing the same kind of flying at a major, making 190k!
Go get a 4 year college degree.

College, University
 

Listen Schraub, your question has been asked 1000 times on this forum and the answer is always, "Go to college!" Now, yes, an AA degree is A degree but obviously not as important as a Baccalaureate or Masters degree. As we used to say, junior college is just high school with ash trays. Yes you can get a major job without college. You can even be the richest man in the world without finishing college, (Gates) but I don't give you much chance.

Hear me now and forever remember:

Go to a 4 year university.
Study something useful. (Not aviation related)
Date lots of girls.
Make lots of friends.
Grow up in its' protected enviroment.


Let me put it in one more, less snide, way. Competition for the really good jobs in this field is at a high level. You will need at least a four year degree to be considered. It is too easy to sort the pile of applications that flood the HR office by 4 year degree. Without one you will need someone to "walk" your app in to get any attention.

And no one is saying you can't attend school online through a number of schools WHILE you are working at a regional. Sure, you may only be able to take 2-3 classes per term or semester, but you're still working towards that 4 year.

Think return on investment!!!

JSchraub,
It is a proven fact that someone with 4 year degree will make more money during his working life than someone with only a 2 year degree.
I do not know how much right off hand but I would bet a quick online search would answer that question. I do remember that is was a significant amount.
I have only a two year degree and very much regret not putting in the effort to complete the four. I am convinced it would have made a difference.
Do yourself and favor. Go into debt if your have to but get the 4 year college degree.
The sooner you get it, the sooner you can get on with a major and the sooner you can pay off any loans you got to pay for it.

goto a 4 year college, live in a dorm, meet people and network. youll learn and have the best times there no matter how much school work you have

There's an important difference between theory and practice. The dictionary is great for the theoretical definition of "college degree" but in practice, hardly anyone who uses that term intends for it to include AAs. Well, except for people who have them, and nothing further...

i love your sense of humor.

I have 2 aviation AA degrees and a "regular" Bachelor's degree in Management and Economics.

My thought process is as follows:

There is lots of buisness in aviation but very little aviation in business.

Did it help me get hired vs. only an AA degree? At the regionals, I think it's a moot point. However, there are several majors for whom I do not qualify with only an AA degree.

I don't like closed doors.

I just recieved an associates degree in Instrumentation and controls at a local community college. I havent got a job yet but my friend did and he starts at 75,000 a year.

AA's are definately useful in specialized technician fields, and instrumentation would qualify.

Aviation may seem like a specialized technical field, but due to a strong tradition of involvement by military officers, and the high pre-deregulation payscales, it has a very white-collar culture which tends to favor college grads. Just the way it is...