The 1500 hour rule is killing aviation programs in US universities that have great reputations like UND and ERAU. How many of the regional accidents in the last two decades have been caused by their graduates vs. some guy who went to a Florida "get your ATP quick program" or local FBO a program? Zero.
Colgan put a non-screened, washout loser as a CA in charge of a DH4 flight to Buffalo. If he had failed the number of check-rides in a university environment, he would've been told to get an English degree. He ran his plane into a bunch of houses.
Guys and ladies like us put in the legitimate work to get a bachelors degree from a good aviation program. We were hired with hours like 322, 283, and 185. And we were given an FO position on an SF3/AR8/ERJ/CRJ. British Airways puts their recruits, without a university degree, on an A320 series aircraft.
The regionals will have to hire from Europe and Canada. It's not a bad gig. Regionals are suffering and boosting pay. You're looking at a 3-5 year gig before getting promoted to a major FO. The baby-boomers are retiring at a pace that far exceeds American supply.