Require a 4 year university degree in something besides basket-weaving.
We would never had time to win the Second World War if a degree in aviation was a pre-requisite to be a pilot. A Degree means exactly nothing apart from getting a job ahead of the great unwashed. It certainly does not guarantee you will make a good pilot.
One of my colleagues graduated from the military in 15 months and first flew the P51 Mustang when he was 20 years old with 210 flying hours. He was a captain on four engine heavy bombers at age 22 and a check and training captain at age 24.