Easiest College Degrees: Guide to Fast Tracks and Simple Majors

Picture this: You’re deep into your second cup of coffee, staring at the course list on your screen, and wishing the path to a diploma were just a bit less painful. Everyone whispers about easy college degrees, but what’s actually out there? Do these supposedly simple majors deliver a genuine break, or is the story a lot more complicated than it seems? If you’ve ever wondered how to get that fancy paper without losing your joy (or your mind), you’re not alone. Even my dog, Rusty, gives a disapproving snort when I start talking about 20-page research papers. With so much talk (and hype) about easy degrees, let’s look under the hood and see what makes some degrees feel light, how you spot one, and whether choosing an easier path might actually be right for you.

What Makes a Degree 'Easy'?

Let’s be real: there’s no major that’s nothing but naps and pizza, unless you’re Rusty, who seems to have a PhD in both. But the question about the easiest degree to get usually means something specific for most people—less homework, fewer all-nighters, minimal math, and maybe not much lab time. But how do schools define “easy,” and why do some majors have this reputation while others don’t?

First off, the data shows that degrees in areas like liberal arts, communications, psychology, and general studies often pop up on lists of “least demanding” majors, at least as far as credit hours and GPAs go. One big survey out of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) tracked undergraduate workloads for over a decade. They found that liberal arts and related general education majors had the highest average GPAs—often 3.3 and up—when compared with engineering and biology, which hovered closer to 2.8 or 3.0. That higher GPA doesn’t make them a walk in the park (hello, research papers!), but it does suggest that these programs may grade more gently, or that the assignments line up better with everyday skills instead of obscure calculations.

Popular “easy” degrees, according to recent data, include:

• Communications
• English
• General Studies
• Psychology
• Education
• Sociology
• Fine Arts
• Anthropology

If you think about what most of these majors have in common, it’s this: a lot of reading and writing, not many mind-bending equations, and fewer grueling lab assignments. Most also come with built-in skills people already use in their daily lives, like talking, writing, or analyzing people’s behavior. These are the degrees people often say feel less “intense” or “technical.” In 2024, the University of Wisconsin published a list showing the average study hours per week by major—engineering topped the chart at 19+ hours, while communication and general studies were around 12 or less.

But here’s the kicker: what’s easy for one person isn’t easy for another. If you hate reading but love coding, computer science won’t feel like a nightmare—but if you start sweating when you see Python, maybe a degree heavy on essays is a blessing. Hidden struggles are everywhere, too. Deadlines, group projects, even “easy” professors can throw curveballs. The point is, “easy” is only ever relative, shaped by your strengths and what you dread most. Still, if you play your cards right, picking a degree known for lighter workloads can mean more free time (for studying, for jobs… or just for Rusty walks), and maybe less of that teeth-grinding academic stress that makes the college meme pages so entertaining.

Which Degrees Usually Have the Lowest Workload?

So, what actually lands a degree on the “easiest” list? It usually comes down to a mix of class structure, grading style, and practical requirements. Let’s break down what makes these degrees lighter and which ones win the title for lowest workload by the numbers.

First, let’s talk about credit requirements. Most U.S. bachelor’s degrees run 120 credits total, but the way those credits break down can make a world of difference. Humanities degrees—literature, philosophy, general studies—offer lots of elective freedom. This means you can dodge tough upper-level math or science if you’d rather not sweat it out in calculus. Plus, many classes are discussion-based. If you’re comfortable chatting, pitching ideas, and writing essays instead of memorizing formulas, this is your playground. According to College Board stats from 2023, general studies, communications, and psychology require significantly fewer upper-level (300/400 level) courses than engineering or business majors. That’s a big deal, since upper-level courses typically mean more work, more hours, and higher stakes.

Now check out this comparison table, based on recent reports from the Association of American Colleges & Universities (AACU):

Now, before anyone signs up for general studies thinking it’s a total breeze, let me spill a secret I learned after talking to recent grads: a lighter class load can come with its own bag of challenges. More flexibility sometimes means less structure, and you have to be good at managing your time and choosing classes that actually interest you. You might not face back-to-back midterms, but if you procrastinate or coast through assignments, those “easy” three-page essay deadlines can pile up frighteningly fast. And unlike majors where everyone’s on one clear career path, easy degrees put the burden on you to figure out what’s next after graduation.

Here are a few tips for making your degree as painless as possible, without flat-out slacking:

• Pay attention to your professors’ reputations. Tools like RateMyProfessors can help you avoid professors who grade like drill sergeants.
• Stack your electives. Pick topics you actually want to read about—motivation is half the battle.
• Be honest about what “easy” means for you. If group presentations make your skin crawl, consider degrees with more solo work.
• Don’t fall into the "easy A" trap: Some easy classes are full of busywork or boring topics that can actually make time drag.

And if you’re thinking about online learning, good news—degrees like communications, psychology, general studies and even some fine arts majors are widely available online, often in accelerated programs. Schools like Arizona State and Southern New Hampshire University are famous for offering flexible, streamlined options that smooth out all the registration, scheduling, and paperwork headaches.

Are Easy Degrees Worth It for Your Career?

Now let’s get real—just because you can breeze through a major doesn’t mean it’s a golden ticket. People love to debate whether a lighter workload now pays off later, or if you’re setting yourself up for a job-search jam. Here’s what the numbers and real grads say about "easy" degrees and the world after college.

People often choose easy degrees for flexibility—they want to switch fields later, or just finish school while working or handling family life. A National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) 2024 report shows that certain easy majors—like communications, psychology, and education—do have respectable job placement rates in fields like sales, teaching, social services, and customer relations. Entry-level salaries, though, tend to be lower than technical fields. For example, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says that in 2024, the median annual wage for liberal arts grads was about $51,300, compared to $81,000 for engineering. That’s a sizeable gap, no sugarcoating it. But grads in flexible majors are also more likely to change careers completely or start their own side hustles, since their coursework casts a wider net—think social media consulting, freelance design, or grad school in a different field.

And don’t underestimate the “soft” skills you pick up in these easy majors. Employers complain all the time about new grads who can’t write an email or negotiate a group project without losing their cool. Being able to communicate, persuade, and organize info actually counts for a lot in real jobs. A survey by LinkedIn in late 2023 showed that 92% of HR managers rated written and oral communication as “very important”—higher than most technical skills for entry-level roles outside engineering or IT.

But yes, there’s a flipside. Some high-school guidance counselors warn that going the easy route just to coast can backfire—especially if you end up in a generic major and later realize you’re no clearer on your life’s purpose than when you started. If you want to maximize what you get out of an easy program, think about adding a minor or certificate, snagging internships, volunteering, or joining clubs to build up your resume in creative ways. That way, you avoid looking like you just chose the path of least resistance and nothing else.

The whole "easiest degree" hunt is really about self-awareness. If you’re sharp at reading people and writing, majors like communications and psychology don’t feel like a slog—they feel fun. If you’d rather wrestle spreadsheets, business admin or information systems is actually easier (for you). Don’t let anyone shame you for picking a degree that fits your style. Just remember, Rusty’s easy life looks great, but it comes with a price: who else is going to clean up the backyard? Sometimes the easiest way is just knowing what you’re good at—and owning it.