To degree or not to degree?

Going to a quality school like Riddle, UND, Perdue... probably makes you a better more well rounded pilot if you actually study and care to learn. But that is much like any education... you have to care in order to make it worth your time and money. Students from those programs generally do better than people from a 61 or ma and pa 141 type education.

Anyone, whether just starting in the industry or not should be focused on getting to a major or their final career stop the quickest way possible.

3 years longer at American for example via a WO like Piedmont, PSA, Envoy means 3 more years at high paying ca pay... that's about a million bucks difference.

I would say go to an airline that will get you to where you want to go the fastest! A major? Try Piedmont, PSA, Envoy in that order (specifically due to flow time... use the flow as a back up plan if you dont get United or Delta. If you flow in 4 years, you will be more marketable for United or Delta). If you want Jetblue, try cape air. Frontier, go with silver now. Allegiant, try ameriflight...

We are all doing the same thing at every regional anyways. Fly hard, pick up overtime to make extra money, enjoy the people your with. However there area few clear cut winners on places to go that give a guaranteed job quickly at a major airline... Piedmont, PSA, Envoy in that order.

But that piece of paper remains

Remains for who? Those who pay? Those with a high debt?

I'd like to see how many of those individuals "advocating for no degree" don't have a degree.

I'd like to see those who advocate for a degree, post their current debt...

Eventually, years down the road, the "pilot shortage" hiring line will fall far enough that guys without degrees will have a reasonable chance at the majors.

Just think of all they money they saved not getting the degree, and money lost missing out of years of major-level wages and benefits.

That's just solid ADM right there.

About 200K in a mortgage on the house I live in.

Zero other debt:

No credit card debt.

No car payment.

No school loans.

Plenty in IRAs and investments.

Went to a state school, got a 4-year degree, and paid for it all working line service at an FBO nights/evenings.

Exactly,

Some of the Majors started out recruiting on FBO ramps. If you had 350TT, you had a awesome shot at flying for the Majors.

And here you are chatting on a regional forum, many of which does not require a College degree to get hired at a regional....

Those who have it can check the box on an application, those who don't will go to the back of the pile. Lifes not fair. Either you can be angry about it or you can start working to fix your situation. The world doesn't care what path you choose.