16 Easiest College Majors – Your 2024 Guide to Easy College Majors
By Joy Miller
Edited by Briana Sukert
Updated on October 2, 2024
Searching for the easiest college majors in 2024? What makes a college major easy? Fewer math classes? Less time in the Chemistry lab? Or maybe you like classes with lots of writing.
What’s easy and what’s difficult is very subjective. It all depends on your likes and dislikes. Me? I like writing. But I’m not a huge fan of dissecting random animals in a bio lab.
What do you enjoy? Let that be your guide as you start exploring majors!
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Here are the 16 Easiest College Majors for 2024:
Average GPAs were used to determine which majors to include. You can read more about our methodology below.
In a study performed by Cornell University, it was determined that science majors tend to have lower than average GPAs. The average GPA for college students at a four-year college is a 3.15 grade point average. The college majors we selected for inclusion have a higher than average GPA, indicating that for “most” students, maintaining a higher GPA is “less difficult”.
Here’s an example:
It would seem that special education majors have no problem raking in the straight A’s! So, if you’re looking for a degree that may require less time (or perhaps less effort) to keep a high GPA, the following college majors may be a good option. You be the judge!
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!
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 help set you up for one of these possible careers.
| Career | Annual Median Salary |
| Chief Human Resources Officer | $185,950 |
| Human Resources Manager | $121,220 |
| General and Operations Manager | $103,650 |
| Project Management Specialist | $77,420 |
| Registered Nurse | $75,330 |
| Social and Community Service Manager | $69,600 |
| Middle School Teacher | $60,810 |
| Social Worker | $51,760 |
| Counselor | $45,760 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
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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.
If you decide to pursue a criminal justice major, one of these careers might be a great fit for you.
| Career | Annual Median Salary |
| Operations Manager | $103,650 |
| Security Manager | $98,890 |
| Police or Detective | $67,290 |
| Probation Officer or Correctional Treatment Specialist | $55,690 |
| Private Detective or Investigator | $53,320 |
| Paralegal | $52,920 |
| Correctional Officer or Bailiff | $47,440 |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook
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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 major might be a great fit for you.
English majors focus on reading great literary works and then analyzing them in detail.
English majors sometimes are lambasted as not being worth the paper they are written on, but that is not the case! An English degree can prepare you for several great careers (and the matching salary!)
| Career | Annual Median Salary |
| Marketing Managers | $142,170 |
| Miscellaneous Managers | $116,350 |
| Office Manager | $98,890 |
| Technical Writer | $74,650 |
| Executive Assistant | $63,110 |
| Secondary School Teachers | $62,870 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
You can also earn an English degree online. This is a great alternative to sitting in a class on campus if you need to balance school with your other commitments.
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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:
An education career can fast-track you to becoming a teacher, but you could also pursue one of these exciting career paths.
| Career | Annual Median Salary |
| Executive Director | $107,680 |
| Elementary School Principal | $98,490 |
| High School Teacher | $62,870 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $62,700 |
| Special Education Teacher | $61,420 |
| Middle School Teacher | $60,810 |
| Adult Literacy and High School Equivalency Diploma Teacher | $55,350 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
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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.
| Career | Annual Median Salary |
| Executive Director | $107,680 |
| Senior Pastor | $66,980 |
| Clergy | $51,940 |
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education | $45,110 |
| Associate Pastor | $38,110 |
| Other Religious Workers | $33,530 |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor: Occupational Outlook Handbook
If you are eager to help others and want to go to sleep each night knowing that you made a difference in the world, then a Social Work major may be your perfect match.
You may not pursue a Social Work major for the money, but that doesn’t mean the potential pay is bad!
| Career | Annual Median Salary |
| Nursing Home Administrator | $89,880 |
| Social and Community Service Manager | $69,600 |
| Probation Officer or Correctional Treatment Specialist | $55,690 |
| Social Worker | $51,760 |
| Mental Health Therapist | $47,660 |
| Case Manager | $38,520 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook
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Sociology majors prepare students to study human behavior through observation and collecting data.
If you decide that you want to take your social observation skills to a new level, then there are a variety of careers that can build upon a Sociology major.
| Career | Annual Median Salary |
| Executive Director | $107,680 |
| Management Analyst | $87,660 |
| Project Management Specialist | $77,420 |
| Market Research Analyst | $65,810 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $63,490 |
| Executive Assistant | $63,110 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $62,810 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook
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Majoring in Communications encourages students to analyze their perspectives and how they impact the way they interact with the world around them. Through this process, they can study power imbalances, gender, culture, sexual orientation, and politics within the scope of the messages that our society is sending, which can be an eye-opening experience!
A Communications major can open the door to a diverse spectrum of careers, from editors to public relations specialists.
| Career | Annual Median Salary |
| Marketing Director | $185,950 |
| Marketing Manager | $142,170 |
| Account Manager | $141,490 |
| Technical Writer | $74,650 |
| Author | $67,120 |
| Editor | $63,400 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $62,810 |
| Reporter, Correspondent, or Broadcast News Analyst | $49,300 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook
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History is often 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.
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.
| Career | Annual Median Salary |
| Attorney / Lawyer | $126,930 |
| Director of Operations | $103,650 |
| Associate Attorney | $84,450 |
| High School Teacher | $62,870 |
| Curator | $56,990 |
| Archivist | $56,760 |
| Museum Technician | $45,710 |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor: Occupational Outlook Handbook
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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 Administration degree, can prepare you to help others without the requirements of nursing or med school.
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.
| Career | Annual Median Salary |
| Physician Assistant | $115,390 |
| Medical or Health Services Manager | $104,280 |
| Physical Therapist | $91,010 |
| Rehabilitation Director | $89,880 |
| Occupational Therapist | $86,280 |
| Healthcare Consultant | $77,130 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians, Including Vascular Technologists | $70,380 |
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $54,180 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook
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If you Google Liberal Arts, you will often see the theoretical Liberal Arts contrasted with the practical STEMs. It is this theoretical aspect that can make a Liberal Arts degree easier to some than the tech-heavy STEM degrees.
If you desire to pursue the good and beautiful in your career choices, Forbes lists several compelling and high-demand careers if you have a Liberal Arts major.
| Career | Annual Median Salary |
| Chief Executive Officer | $185,950 |
| Marketing Manager | $142,170 |
| Software Engineer | $110,140 |
| Top Executives | $107,680 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $98,890 |
| Data Analyst | $98,230 |
| Management Analyst | $87,660 |
| Operations Research Analyst | $86,200 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook
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If you can pen poetry, plays, and personal essays with ease, you may want to consider a major in creative writing. Programs in this major are designed to provide opportunities to analyze existing pieces, create new work in a variety of genres, and receive feedback that can help hone your skills.
Creative writing can help you develop useful communication skills. But since it’s unlikely you will earn a paycheck for writing poems and short stories, you may have to think outside the box to determine what occupation will make the best use of your talents.
| Career | Annual Median Salary |
| Marketing Manager | $142,170 |
| Communications Manager | $118,430 |
| Senior Copywriter | $94,090 |
| Writer / Author | $67,120 |
| Editor | $63,400 |
| Librarian | $60,820 |
| Paralegal / Legal Assistant | $52,920 |
| Reporter / Correspondent / Broadcast News Analyst | $49,300 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook
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Do you dig the history and the evolution of humankind? With a major in anthropology, you can explore the cultural history and social relationships, and may even travel to examine archaeological remains and learn about the human species.
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.
| Career | Annual Median Salary |
| Anthropologist / Archaeologist | $66,130 |
| Program Director | $69,600 |
| Market Research Analyst | $65,810 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $63,490 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $62,810 |
| Interpreter / Translator | $52,330 |
| Archivist / Curator / Museum Worker | $52,140 |
| Social Worker | $51,760 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
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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.
Fortunately for you, language skills are useful in all fields, all around the world! Linguistic degrees can be highly versatile, which may you to work as an interpreter, translator, or writer in a school, business, government agency or military, for example.
| Career | Annual Median Salary |
| Software Engineer | $110,140 |
| Linguist | $87,260 |
| Occupational Therapist | $86,280 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $80,480 |
| Web Developer | $77,200 |
| Technical Writer | $74,650 |
| High School Teacher | $62,870 |
| Interpreter / Translator | $52,330 |
Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook
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.
We’ve all heard the term “starving artist,” but there are definitely ways you can make money as a musician. Pursuing a second major in college or a concentration in a complementary field, such as technology, can open even more doors!
| Career | Annual Median Salary |
| Executive Director | $91,300 |
| Producers / Directors | $76,400 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $69,690 |
| Music Director / Composer | $52,250 |
| Worship Pastor | $51,940 |
| Recreational Therapist | $47,710 |
| Broadcast / Sound Engineering Technician | $47,420 |
Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook
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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 can help you explore all of these and keep the door wide open when it comes to career options.
While many degrees lead to an obvious career choice, humanities is more open-ended. Your education can help 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.
| Career | Annual Median Salary |
| Human Resources Manager | $121,220 |
| Social and Community Service Manager | $69,600 |
| Writer / Author | $67,120 |
| Executive Assistant to CEO | $63,110 |
| High School Teacher | $62,870 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $62,810 |
| Social Worker | $51,760 |
| Associate Professor | $49,420 |
Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook
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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:
| College Major | Annual Median Salary |
| Creative Writing | $56,000 |
| Health | $56,000 |
| History | $54,000 |
| Communications | $54,000 |
| Criminal Justice | $54,000 |
| Liberal Arts | $53,000 |
| English | $53,000 |
| Sociology | $51,000 |
| Religious Studies | $51,000 |
| Linguistics | $50,000 |
| Humanities | $49,000 |
| Psychology | $49,000 |
| Anthropology | $49,000 |
| Music | $49,000 |
| Education | $46,000 |
| Social Work | $42,000 |
Source: Center on Education and the Workforce
You can also check out our in-depth guide to quick and easy degrees that pay well.
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:
If you are looking for easy bachelor degrees, the best medical majors in college to choose from are:
Whether you want to use a vocational program to gain entrance to the medical field quickly or prefer earning a Bachelor’s in Healthcare Administration, some medical majors are easier than others.
Whether or not a college major is easy will depend largely on your strengths and interests. However, based on average GPAs, the following majors may be a good choice for you.
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.
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 majors may be a breeze for you.
We go into greater detail on each of these majors here.
People with bachelor’s degrees in the following fields typically earn average salaries of between $42,000 and $62,000.
But these numbers don’t tell the whole story.
As a history major, you might land a job as the director of operations and rake in almost $103,650 a year. As a liberal arts major, you might end up in upper management making $100K+ each year.
Here are some career prospects for certain majors.
| College Major | Annual Median Salary |
| Health | $56,000 |
| History | $54,000 |
| Communications | $54,000 |
| Liberal Arts | $53,000 |
| English | $53,000 |
| Sociology | $51,000 |
| Linguistics | $50,000 |
| Humanities | $49,000 |
| Psychology | $49,000 |
Source: Center on Education and the Workforce
Graduates with degrees in these fields typically make good money and have opportunities to help others. Their roles as social workers, counselors, linguists, and teachers can 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!
Easy college majors that often make a lot of money include Criminal Justice, Social Work, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Communications. Graduates with degrees in one of these fields may make close to (or slightly above) three figures!
Much like sitting in a classroom, the easiest major to get online will depend on your academic strengths and personal taste.
For example, if you like to write, pursuing a Bachelor’s in English online (or a Bachelor’s in Communication) would probably seem quite easy for you since you like to write. But what if you hate writing? You will likely hate your coursework and consider it quite difficult. Similarly, if you have a knack for technology and problem-solving, an online computer degree might be a suitable and manageable option for you.
So what’s my point?
Take inventory of your likes and dislikes along with your academic strengths and weaknesses. If you hate math, I wouldn’t recommend pursuing a bachelor’s in computer science online. Similarly, if you hate economics, accounting, and finance, you might consider a bachelor’s in business administration quite taxing.
As we’ve pointed out, “easy” is a subjective term. Whether or not a particular major is easy depends on your 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 most of the students in that major are doing. If a lot of students are doing well in a field, it may be because it is “easier” than in other fields.
The 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:
| College Major | Average GPA |
| Special Education | 3.80 |
| Early Childhood Education | 3.64 |
| Professional Development | 3.60 |
| Elementary Education | 3.58 |
| Workforce Education | 3.53 |
| Secondary Education | 3.49 |
| Music | 3.43 |
| Nutrition Sciences | 3.40 |
A variety of things could contribute to the higher GPA scores in these majors. 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 does offer a point of comparison when trying to identify easy college majors.
Some other factors that may make a college major easy include:
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.
Frequently Asked Questions:
So, what do you think? Is majoring in history looking a little more inviting? Or do you want step up your game in the music field?
Maybe, maybe not.
Selecting a college major should be a rewarding experience… try not to just weigh the pros and cons.
What fields excite you?
What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning?
Ultimately, choosing a college major that’s quick and pays well, or one that closely aligns with your values, should be deeply satisfying.
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