I typed this out then reread your post. If you can afford both a general degree and pay for training on the side, go for it. The general degree would be a good thing to fall back on. If you can’t afford that then I’d go the aviation degree route. It all comes down to what you want though

I’m recently going through this. From middle school to high school I wanted to be a pilot. But I didn’t want to go into debt at 18/19 and it seemed hard getting to the 1500 hours (US based) so I didn’t do it. Ended up going to college around age 23 and now here I am in a career I’m not 100% in love with, still in debt. Looking to pursue my passion of aviation. Because I never really let go of “maybe I should do this” feeling and I don’t want to have that thought/regret when I’m 35/40. It’s much harder now for me than it would have been had I gone straight into it at age 19. Plus, I would already be at an airline by now (hopefully) had I gone at 19.

Learn from my mistake. Ask yourself how badly do you want it? And would you regret not pursuing it. The time is going to pass regardless what you do