“But it costs (in both time and money) as much as or more than college, and the entry level pay after completion is not necessarily better than that which a new bachelor’s degree graduate can find. It is also in the airline industry, which is not the most stable or profitable one to tie your career to”
While it can be unstable, it can also be extremely profitable. Depending upon the airline, the income can be phenomenal. Of course if your company goes into bankruptcy, income gets slashed and you work your way up the income ladder again. I can’t think of a job besides that of a surgeon, CEO or extremely good attorney that has these sort of salaries. But to move to one of these airlines, a college degree IS required, so it’s not either the training or the degree.