aerospacepilot

Hey Jason,
How old are you? If you are anywhere under 40, then the answer is incredibly obvious. Go to college!!

First, the answer to your question is basically NO. You probably WILL NOT get hired by a major (good) airline without a 4 year college degree. Here is a list of the best airlines that either REQUIRE, or STRONGLY PREFER a 4 year college degree:
American, United, Delta, Continental, Northwest, US Air, Southwest, FedEx, and UPS.
I am sure many other airlines either require or highly prefer a college degree. There is always that very rare case of someone getting hired by one of these carriers without a college degree, but this is not the norm. Maybe in 1985. Not today. It is the year 2007. College degrees are the norm, not the exception.

Let me put it another way. Your odds are better that you will become a professional athlete than they are that you will get hired by a good airline without a college degree. They are. Run the numbers!

Honestly, the airline hiring market has big ups and downs. A college degree requirement comes and goes with demand. Right now only a few airlines are hiring very few people without a college degree. What happens when age 65 passes? What happens when the economy starts to slow down? Then maybe everyone hired (including at lower levels) will need a college degree. The airlines add a college degree requirement because it shows that you can complete a tough cirriculum and stick with it. Airlines also know all the great life experiences that come with going to college.

Aside from needing it to get hired at a major airline, here is why I think you should get a 4 year college degree. First, it will be the best experience of your life. Hands down. You will meet more people there than at any other point in your life. There is a wise saying.... It's not always about what you how, its often WHO you know. At college, you will meet some people who you will stay in touch with for the rest of your life. You will grow more as a person than at any other time in your life. You will learn so much. And you will have a backup plan incase your aviation career ever tanks (lets say you loose your medical, or your airline goes bankrupt, you get furloughed). These things have happened to tens of thousands of pilots. And many are incredibly thankful they had a college degree when it happened.

It looks like you have not even started flight training. That is fine. Go to college. Next summer, get your private pilots license. Fly for fun during the school year. Then next summer get your instrument rating. Do some more flying, then next summer get your commercial, multi, and flight instructor ratings. Then when you graduate, you will be ready to start building time and start going towards your dream job. I call it your dream job because you actually will have a good chance of flying a good airplane for a good airline if you get a 4 year college degree.

Having a 4 year college degree will open doors of opportunity that will be shut if you don't have a 4 year college degree.

I hope this helps.
Let us know what you decide and if you have any more questions or need any more help. Feel free to PM me too.
Good luck,
Aerospacepilot

de727ups

If you don't have a degree, you're putting yourself at a disadvantage for the top jobs in aviation. It was that way 20 years ago, and I imagine it will be that way 20 years from now.

That's not to say folks don't sometimes get hired at great jobs without a degree, but it's a low percentage.

Deez340

I'm sorry, I just don't buy it. Also, the average time in recent new hire classes is over 6,000 TT with 2,500 Turbine PIC. That includes the low time fighter guys with 2000 TT. Some civilians and 20yr mil guys have a lot more. The idea that Delta is hiring people with ATP mins just because they meet the minimum education requirement listed for the job is preposterous. Sounds like there's a back story there, chip on shoulder perhaps? A few years ago they put out a survey of our pilot group. If memory serves, the numbers without a four year degree was in the single digits.

flaps 9

Yes they will.

Rocco

Your at SWA without a Bachelors degree? Doubtful(unless you got hired when no one wanted to work there)....

Straight from SW web site
Southwest Airlines New Pilot Requirements
*
Certificates / Ratings:
U.S. FAA Airline Transport Pilot Certificate. Unrestricted1 U.S. Type Rating on a B-737 not required for interview but required for employment.2
*
Age:
Must be at least twenty-three years of age.
* Flight Experience:
2,500 hours total or 1,500 hours TURBINE total. Additionally, a minimum of 1,000 hours in Turbine aircraft as the Pilot in command3, as defined below is required. Southwest considers only Pilot time in fixed wing aircraft. This specifically excludes simulator, helicopter, WSO, RIO, FE, NAV, EWO etc. NO other time is counted.3
* Currency:
A minimum of 200 hours must be logged in the preceding 36 months.
* Medical:
Must possess a current FAA Class 1 Medical Certificate. Must pass FAA mandated Drug Test.
* Authorization to work in the United States:
Must have established authorization to work in the United States.
* Driver's License:
Must possess a valid United States Driver's License.
*
Education:
Graduation from accredited, four-year college.

flaps 9

I was just answering his question.

Jason asked "In the years to come will the majors hire someone without a Bachelors degree?"

Between all the majors, I'm sure someone will get hired without a degree.

cfii2007

I have 2 degrees, does that mean I can get 2 jobs?

Rocco

Thats what I thought you were saying. I would still say no. Too many competitive applicants with a degree.

Rocco

No it just means you enjoyed school too much....

contrail67

If you do not have a 4 year degree..at least get a 2 year but, the more hours you build the better the chance. I know 2 guys that got hired at a legacy without but they both had 10000 hours plus...which is not that unheard of these days.