Easy College Majors

Easy College Majors: A Guide to Choosing the Major That Will Work for You!

You’ve bitten the bullet and decided that getting a college degree will be the right choice for you. The financial benefits and new career opportunities have proven that a college degree is worth the time, money and energy.

But, I’m sure you have questions about what major to choose.

Is there a college degree that will allow you to achieve your career goals in a timeframe that works for you?

Yes!

And what about the educational expectations? Are there particular majors that are easier (or harder!) than others?

Yes!

But also no.

For some people, majoring in Biology seems like a natural choice as their understanding of science comes naturally to them. While for others, the idea of spending hours researching and then dissecting (sometimes quite literally) a subject makes them break out in cold sweats!

Choosing the easiest college degree is quite subjective, based on your natural aptitude and life experiences! However, if you are looking for a degree that will require less time or even less effort, then these college majors might be the right fit for you.

You can also check out our latest article on Easy Bachelor Degrees – Are They Worth It? for a more in-depth look.

English Literature Major

If you can frequently be found with your nose in a book, or if your friends always come to you for reading recommendations, then an English Literature major might be a great fit for you. English majors focus on reading great literary works and then analyzing them in detail.

Multiple colleges offer English degrees online, making it easier for you to finish your degree faster.

Pros

• The freedom and encouragement to read lots of books as part of your education.
• No major research papers!
• Majoring in English allows you to pursue a variety of career opportunities, from museums to insurance writers or even the FBI!

Cons

• The wide variety of career paths available to an English major also provide a lack of focus. It’s hard to narrow down a career when you are not prepared for a specific job.
• An English major requires a LOT of reading and writing. With multiple books assigned for each course, and then papers assigned on top, completing an English major can be a big time commitment.

Possible English Literature Careers and Salary

English majors sometimes are lambasted as not being worth the paper they are written on, but that is not the case! An English Literature degree can prepare you for several great careers (and the matching salary!)

Source: Putting your liberal arts degree to work, Career Outlook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Psychology Major

If you love helping your friends analyze text messages and decipher the inner motivation, then a psychology major may be the right choice for you! A psychology major allows you to study the workings of the human psyche and discover how to understand the behavior of individuals within culture and society, which can make for fun dinner table conversations!

You can earn your psychology degree online in less time.

Pros

• There are many different fields of career specialization with this major, from work within a laboratory to a clinical situation!
• By default, psychology is about people, so you have the opportunity to work in a highly social setting.
• A psychology major provides a wealth of transferable skills, such as analytical and communication skills.

Cons

• Psychology degrees require a lot of research and statistical analysis.
• If you want to work as a psychologist, you will need further education such as a Masters or even a Doctorate.

Possible Psychology Careers and Salary

If you decide to pursue a Psychology major, there are a variety of careers available. Whether you want to work in the healthcare field or another field, a psychology major can set you up for one of these possible 5 careers.

Source: Putting your liberal arts degree to work; Career Outlook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Criminal Justice Major

For Truth, Justice, and the American Way! If you ever found yourself quoting this line alongside Superman, a criminal justice major may be a way for you to be a superhero, even if you don’t have super strength.

A number of colleges offer accredited criminal justice degrees online.

Pros

• Criminal Justice is an exciting field that allows you to help others in a hands-on way.
• Well-paying job opportunities, with the ability to make $49,000+ a year.
• Criminal Justice majors are not reading or writing intensive.

Cons

• Working in the criminal justice field can be very stressful, extracting a toll on everyone in the field.

Possible Criminal Justice Careers and Salary

If you decide to pursue a criminal justice major, one of these careers might be a great fit for you.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook

Education Major

If you want to change the world, be a teacher. Teachers have an immense opportunity to impact others as they share pertinent information and guide thoughtful discussion on big-scale issues.

There are a number of education majors including:

• Special Education
• Elementary Education
• Secondary Education

Interested in an education major? A number of universities now offer education and teaching degrees online.

Pros

• The bulk of your classwork is based around educational theory, which is not a complicated science and makes coursework easier.
• The hands-on nature of education is a good match for those who don’t like desk work.
• Required SAT entrance scores are among the lowest in undergraduate degrees.

Cons

• Student teaching requires a full-time commitment, often with no pay.

Possible Education and Teaching Careers and Salary

With an education career, you are fast-tracked to become a teacher, but you could also follow one of these exciting career paths.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook

Religious Studies Major

If you are intrigued by the movement and philosophies of various world religions and like to discuss issues that have no clear-cut answers, you might enjoy a Religious Studies degree.

Want to get your degree in less time? You can now earn a theology or religious studies degree online.

Pros

• Most content is graded on your ability to argue a point, not on being right or wrong.
• The opportunity to study different cultures and religions is mind-opening and may grant you a deeper perspective on your own life.

Cons

• This degree does not have a clear end goal, which can make finding a career after getting your degree difficult.

Possible Religious Studies Careers and Salary

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook

Social Work Major

If you are eager to help others and want to lie in bed, knowing that you made a difference in the world, then a Social Work major may be your perfect match.

You can now get your social work degree online from a number of colleges.

Pros

• Courses in this major do not require a lot of upper-level mathematics or physical sciences, which will make the coursework easier.
• Majoring in Social Work requires an internship which can create great connections for career development after you graduate.

Cons

• Majoring in Social Work also means majoring in family trauma, violence, and social dysfunction, none of which will help you sleep at night.

Possible Social Work Careers and Salary

You wouldn’t pursue a Social Work major for the money, but that doesn’t mean the pay is bad!

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook

Sociology Major

A Sociology major prepares you to study human behavior through observation and collecting data.

Get more in-depth info about colleges offering online sociology degrees.

Pros

• Sociology readings are generally in the form of journal articles, short, sweet and to the point.
• Spending time studying social connections can set you up for success in people-orientated fields such as Human Resources.

Cons

• According to a study by Georgetown, Sociology majors face an overwhelming 9.9% unemployment rate. Yikes!

Possible Sociology Careers and Salary

If you decided that you want to take your social observation skills to a new level, then there are a variety of careers that build upon a Sociology major.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook

Communications Major

Majoring in Communications forces you to analyze your perspective and how it impacts the way you interact with the world around you. Through this process, you are able to study power imbalances, gender, culture, sexual orientation, and politics within the scope of the messages that our society is sending, which is an eye-opening experience!

Prefer the flexibility of an online degree? Get your communications degree online.

Pros

• The theories you learn in class can be immediately applied in your day-to-day life.
• Communications is a hands-on degree, allowing you to exercise your creativity while accomplishing educational requirements.

Cons

• The starting salary for a Communications major is often quite low, which can be a hard pill to swallow if your degree required a sizable student loan.

Possible Communications Careers and Salary

A Communications major provides a diverse spectrum of careers, from editors to public relations specialists.

(Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook)

History Major

History is considered an easy major as the facts have already happened, and all we have to do is interpret them now. All you need to do now is order the events and understand the overarching storyline of history.

Prefer studying from the comfort of home. Online history degrees are offered by a few accredited universities.

Pros

• Coursework is based on reading and writing papers. No burdensome lab reports or technical writing!
• You can develop excellent critical thinking and research skills in this major.

Cons

• Most careers in the History track require a graduate degree for employment.
• A large portion of your resources will be translations or in the original language, making studying difficult.

Possible History Careers and Salary

You’ve decided to take the leap and pursue a career that highlights your love of history, so take a look at this list to see some potential career opportunities.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook

Health Major

You were coughing into your elbow before it was standard practice, can always be found with hand sanitizer in your pocket and can easily explain the difference between germs and bacteria. Majoring in Health, in either a Health Science or Health Administrations degree, will allow you to help others, without the requirements of nursing or med school.

A few healthcare majors are offered online, but not all of them (like an M.D., obviously).

Pros

• Flexibility if you choose to pursue further education in the healthcare industry.
• Healthcare is a rapidly growing field, with lots of employment opportunities.

Cons

• A Health Administrator major may have high academic expectations for its students, requiring you to put in a lot of work to succeed in your classes.

Possible Health Careers and Salary

Have you decided that a Health major is the right fit for you? If so, consider these possible careers and how you want to be a part of the healthcare field.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook

Liberal Arts Major

If you Google Liberal Arts, you will often see the theoretical Liberal Arts contrasted with the practical STEMs. It is this theoretical aspect that will make a Liberal Arts degree easier than the technical heavy STEM degrees.

Get your liberal arts degree online in less time.

Pros

• A Liberal Arts major develops skills such as critical thinking and emotional intelligence that will make your resume very attractive to potential employers.
• A Liberal Arts major is a great stepping stone for a harder followup degree such as pre-med according to Fareed Zakaria.

Cons

• Directly out of college, your Liberal Arts degree will probably only earn $26,272 instead of the $31,183 that a professional degree might net according to AACU.

Possible Liberal Arts Careers and Salary

If you desire to pursue the good and beautiful in your career choices, Forbes Magazine lists several compelling and high demand careers if you have a Liberal Arts major.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook

Creative Writing Major

If you can pen poetry, plays and personal essays with ease, you should consider a major in creative writing. As a student, you will have opportunities to analyze existing pieces, create new work in a variety of genres, and receive feedback that will help hone your skills.

Want to get your writing degree online? Regent University offers a Bachelor’s in English – Writing

Pros

• Your homework assignments will be the same thing you’ve been doing for fun for years.
• Great communication and writing skills are valuable in nearly all professions (and handy in life, too!).
• This major will allow you to cultivate your creative and artistic talents in a way that is marketable.

Cons

• Even for those who love it, writing can be tedious and time-consuming.
• Writers block: Everyone gets it, but as a creative writing major you will have to learn to power through it in order to meet your deadlines.
• Critiques are a big part of this major. You will have to be comfortable giving and receiving negative feedback, professionally.

Possible Creative Writing Careers and Salary

Creative writing will help you develop useful communication skills. But since it’s unlikely you will earn a paycheck for writing poems and short stories, you will have to think outside the box to determine what occupation will make the best use of your talents.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook

Anthropology Major

Do you dig the history and the evolution of humankind? With a major in anthropology, you can explore cultural history and social relationships, and even travel to examine archeological remains and learn about the human species.

If you want to get your anthropology degree online, Ashford University offers a Bachelor’s in Cultural Anthropology completely online.

Pros

• You will develop skills in business, education, public service, research and advocacy – all of which are useful in many occupations.
• You can see the world! There will be opportunities to travel, meet new people, immerse yourself in new cultures, and so on.
• You will learn to communicate with and relate to people, and adapt to different environments, which can be personally rewarding.

Cons

• We have to count travel as a “con” too, because it can be isolating and long-term.
• The work can be physically demanding. You may be required to dig, sometimes in hot climates.
• Projects are on-going, sometimes without a clear conclusion, so it can be difficult to measure success.

Possible Anthropology Careers and Salary

Anthropologists don’t always work on-site in remote locations. Graduates may find employment as educators or researchers, working for government agencies, corporations, or non-profit organizations.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook

Linguistics (or Languages) Major

Is it soda, pop or coke? Why do we say feet instead of foots? Which accents are associated with each region? If you love learning about language, dialect, and vernacular, a linguistics degree may be just what you’re looking for.

Not many universities offer linguistics programs online, but Ashford University does have an Online Bachelor’s in Applied Linguistics if that interests you.

Pros

• People with language skills are in high demand in all fields.
• You may have opportunities to travel and meet new people around the world.

Cons

• This is a fairly narrow field, so there aren’t dozens of career paths to choose from.
• Some careers options for linguistics graduates will require a more advanced degree or licensing.

Possible Linguistics Careers and Salary

Fortunately for you, language skills are useful in all fields, all around the world! You degree will be highly versatile, allowing you to work as an interpreter, translator or writer, in a school, business, government agency or military, for example.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook

Music Major

People who pursue music are passionate about it! But you will need to stay in tune with reality – teaching, composing or engineering may be the best paths if you want to earn a decent income in the music industry.

Pros

• You will get to explore and share your passion, every day.
• There will be plenty of opportunities to work with others, learning from and creating with one another, and networking professionally.
• You will develop patience, confidence, and tenacity.

Cons

• It can be difficult to find steady employment in music, as with most artistic fields.
• Some people find that turning a hobby into a job makes it less enjoyable.

Possible Music Careers and Salary

We’ve all heard the term “starving artist,” but there are definitely ways you can make money as a musician. Adding a second degree or a concentration in a complementary field, like technology, can open even more doors!

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook

Humanities Major

Maybe your interests span a variety of areas including art, music, literature, history, philosophy and religion. If you can’t seem to narrow it down to one field, a degree in humanities will allow you to explore all of these, and keep the door wide open when it comes to career options.

A few schools offer humanities / liberal arts degrees online.

Pros

• You will work on communication, critical thinking and analysis, all of which are valuable both personally and professionally.
• The degree is extremely flexible so you can find employment in nearly any industry.

Cons

• Though you’ll gain a diverse range of useful skills, you may not adequately develop the technical skills necessary for one specific career. You may need some on-the-job training.
• You may need to pursue a more advanced degree or licensing to land the best jobs.

Possible Humanities Careers and Salary

While many degrees lead to an obvious career choice, humanities is more open-ended. Your education will provide you with skills that are useful in a wide variety of professions, and then you will need to determine which one is the best fit for you.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook

What are the easy college majors that pay well?

Some examples of easy college majors that pay well include Criminal Justice, Sociology, Health, Liberal Arts, Anthropology and Linguistics / Languages. Professionals within these fields are capable of earning as much as $60-100 per year!

Check out some of the specific occupations graduates could pursue, and the median salaries associated with each:

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook

Easy Medical Majors

The best easy medical majors tend to be vocational programs that do not require a four year college degree.

Here are the best easy medical majors for those of you who do not want (or need) a bachelor’s degree:

• Sonography
• Medical Assistant
• Dental Assistant
• Health Information Technician
• Pharmacy Technician
• Certified Nursing Assistant
• Medical Coder
• Dental Hygienist
• Respiratory Therapy

If you are looking for a four year degree, the easiest medical majors in college are:

• Healthcare Administration
• Healthcare Information Sciences
• Occupational Health
• Health Sciences
• Nutrition Sciences

Easy College Majors for Athletes

Whether or not a college major is easy will depend largely on your strengths and interests. However, based on GPAs, the following majors may be a good choice for you.

• Psychology
• Child Psychology
• Health (or Health Sciences)
• Criminal Justice
• Social Sciences (such as sociology, psychology, anthropology, and related)

Are you a student athlete studying an easy major not listed above? Please leave a comment below so we can include your recommendations in the listing above. It will help if you can also state why the major seems easy for you.

10 Hardest College Majors

As we’ve already mentioned concerning easy majors, not everyone will find the following college majors difficult. If you are strong in math and science, these so-called hardest college major may be a breeze for you.

• Engineering
• Computer Science
• Mathematics
• Biology
• Architecture
• Economics
• Geology
• Philosophy
• Physics
• Chemistry

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have more questions? Here are some common ones, but if you can’t find the answers you’re looking for, post a comment below and we will respond.

What are the easy college majors with good jobs?

Easy college majors with good jobs include Criminal Justice, Psychology, Social Work and Health.

Graduates with degrees in these fields make good money and have opportunities to help others. Their roles as police officers, detectives, social workers, counselors, nurses and other medical personnel put them in contact with the public every day, allowing them to assist, support and advocate for individuals in their communities and beyond. That makes for a really good job!

What are easy majors that make a lot of money?

Easy college majors that make a lot of money include Criminal Justice, Social Work, Social Sciences, Humanities and Communications. After graduating with a degree in one of these fields, you could make close to (or slightly above) three figures!

What makes a college major easy?

As we’ve pointed out, “easy” is a subjective term. Whether or not a particular major is easy depends on the student’s own aptitude, experience and interests. This will, of course, vary greatly from one person to the next.

One way we can get a sense of how easy a major might be overall, is by looking at how well the students in that major are doing.  If many students are doing well in a field, it may be because it is easier than other fields.

University of Las Vegas has compiled a list of degree productivity, showing how many degrees were awarded and the average graduating GPA for each major. Here are some of the fields with the highest average GPAs:

A variety of things could contribute to the higher GPA scores in these majors, and the fact that many students perform well in an area at one school doesn’t necessarily mean that is the case at all schools. But this data offers something to think about and compare when trying to identify easy college majors.

Some other factors that may make a college major easy include:

• Work that cannot be objectively evaluated (like art)
• Fewer hours spent on homework / papers / studying
• More group projects, rather than requiring individual students to be accountable for their own success

While none of these criteria guarantees that a major is easy, each offers a point of comparison that can help identify majors that are easier for a majority of students.

Ultimately, though, it will be up to you to figure out which major is easy for you.

You’ve studied the options and weighed the pros and cons. So what major will you choose as you pursue new opportunities in your career?