Thanks GF and PT6, You were really helpful.

My situation is I skipped the degree (so far) as the majors are now preferring one not requiring one. I didn't do 4 years in a 141 program to end up with a CFI. Instead I pushed through my ratings in under a year and am at 600 hours so far when most of my classmates at UVU are just finishing there Commercial license. It all depends on your situation. I personally see it as a waste of funds and time with the pilot shortage. It most likely with be lifted eventually. But, at the same time getting one is a good safety net. Just an expensive safety net. Just my two cents.

The "requirement" will never be "lifted", are you expecting the president to sign a law to that effect?

You don't understand what airlines are looking for in their pilots. It's not monkey stick and rudder skills. They are looking for a whole person, and from the perspective of the managers and HR people, a degree is part of that (they all have one). Also the pilot cultures at the big airlines are college-boy oriented as well. The pilot on the interview panel almost assuredly has a degree or two. So regardless of the logical argument, perceptions are going to be a factor.

It will always be preferred, and it will always take longer to get hired at the best jobs without one. How much longer? Hard to say. They could start hiring CFI's with degrees and continue to pass on regional CA's who don't have a degree.

So the real question is whether the time and expense of college will get you hired fast enough to provide an ROI? Right now the answer is clearly yes, and for most of airline history the answer has been yes. It's possible that might change soon, but it's hard to quantify.

The good news is that if you find yourself stuck at a regional, you'll have plenty of time to do an online degree. I have a buddy who did that, he got on with UA after he finished the degree.