For most industries, a college degree is the only "hurtle" that people have to get through in order to be employed.
For professional airline pilots, they have to have a minimum of 1,500 hrs of flight experience. The have gone through multiple FAA exams, checkrides, etc. They have also likely been instructing other people how to fly for several years before they reach their hours. On top of that, most pilots work for a regional before heading over to mainline. All that to say, these people aren't dummies and the airlines are incredible at selecting talented and qualified people. They know more than you and I, so I am inclined to trust their decision.