Do airlines want a college degree?

You can still make your way in a professional pilot or airline pilot career. If your goal is to fly for a major airline, they still generally favor pilots with college degrees, but you can still get there without it.



In 2026, the requirement for a college degree to become a commercial pilot has shifted from a "mandatory" to a "preferred" status at many major airlines. During the pilot shortages of the early 2020s, many "Big Three" carriers (Delta, United, and American) officially dropped the four-year degree requirement to widen the applicant pool. However, the industry remains highly competitive. If two pilots have similar flight hours and safety records, the one with a degree—in any field, not just aviation—is often viewed as more well-rounded and disciplined. For international carriers and high-level corporate flight departments, the degree remains a significant "prestige" factor. While you can certainly get hired at a regional airline or a low-cost carrier without one, having a degree still provides a competitive edge and serves as a vital "Plan B" should medical issues ever prevent you from flying.

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For aspiring flight attendants, Delta Air Lines, ranked by its employees as one of the best places to work, is also one of the most difficult places to get a job. It's harder to get invited to Delta flight attendant training than it is to get into Harvard University.

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