10 Easiest College Majors in 2023

March 9, 2023

You’re behind the wheel of a car for the first time. How hard can this be? You think to yourself. There’s one steering wheel and two pedals. However, while you’re learning, you’ll likely appear slightly unhinged to everyone else on the road (and not just because your mother is having a panic attack in the front seat) until you deduce how much pressure to apply to the gas and brake without looking like a stuttering train and how close you can drive to the side of the road without mowing down your neighbor’s mailbox. However, once you’ve been driving for several years, most of your decision-making will take place intuitively, and it will begin to feel easy. In general, when we say something is “easy,” it is typically because we’ve done it enough times to master it. So, how should we go about determining the easiest college majors? Read on.

Determining the Easiest Majors in College

There’s a reason why there are so many different types of majors and career paths–students have varying goals, skills, and interests. If your idea of fun is a fifteen-page paper on Mrs. Dalloway, multivariable calculus likely horrifies you. Likewise, if you prefer learning a programming language to practicing verb tenses, it’s safe to say you won’t be majoring in Spanish. Since ease is always relative, determining the easiest college major is not a straightforward endeavor.

GPA

One way that researchers have sought to quantify ease is via GPA. Presumably, more difficult majors will produce lower average GPAs than easier majors. However, this metric can be unreliable since different colleges and programs vary in regard to content and structure, and comprehensive data is difficult to find. That said, in the early 2000s, a researcher named Kevin Rask sought to investigate STEM attrition at an unnamed northeastern liberal arts college and published a study in 2010 that aggregated ten years’ worth of GPA data. The study found that STEM majors like chemistry and mathematics were at the bottom of the GPA heap. Majors like English and education enjoyed top spots. Consequently, when evaluating GPA data at any college, you’ll want to take program size and strength into account.

Attrition

The easiest college majors can also be determined by analyzing overall attrition. For example, The New York Times notes that up to 60% of STEM majors (including premed) either switch to another, non-STEM subject or fail to complete their degree–more than twice the attrition rate of other majors. Subject matter difficulty appears to be a main contributing factor. Along those lines, majors in the humanities and social sciences are typically more subjective than objective in terms of evaluation. This may result in more fluid grading processes that are kinder to one’s GPA. Furthermore, it’s difficult to “grade” creativity; high marks may be awarded for effort rather than skill. (However, talent-based fields, like acting, writing, and art, are notoriously hard to break into even for the most gifted students).

Return on Investment

In addition to GPA, attrition, and curriculum structure, it’s important to look at overall return on investment and expected salary when evaluating the easiest majors in college. STEM fields typically produce a high return on investment rather quickly. Although non-STEM fields take longer to see results, mid-career salaries for STEM vs. liberal arts majors tend to even out. As such, we looked at the average salary one could expect after graduating with a particular major. Finally, consider whether your major will require an advanced degree to be eligible for the most lucrative job options.

To build this list, we chose options where students enjoyed higher GPAs and more subjective grading practices during college as well as above-average mid-career salaries, below-average post-college unemployment, and plenty of job possibilities. Additionally, we sourced all data from The Labor Market for Recent College Graduates. This is an interactive web feature maintained by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. All figures are from 2021.

10 Easiest College Majors

1) Anthropology

Anthropology is concerned with the study of humanity, and how our understanding of the past affects our understanding of the present and future. It’s also a major that will earn you some raised eyebrows about career prospects. Never fear–even if you’re not interested in becoming a full-blown anthropologist or archeologist, there are plenty of sectors that welcome anthropology majors with open arms, like government, nonprofit, and business. In addition, many go on to jobs related to diversity or social justice. Expect to take courses in ethnicity and identity, human behavior, linguistics, and philosophy. Finally, graduates are typically quite strong communicators and researchers with excellent cross-cultural skills.

Median Early Career Earnings (age 22-27): $40,000
Median Mid Career Earnings (age 35-45): $65,000
Average Unemployment (age 22-27): 6.5%
Percentage with Graduate Degree: 46.3%

Related: Best Colleges for Anthropology

2) Business Administration

As the most popular college major since 1980, business encompasses a variety of sub-disciplines, such as finance, accounting, and marketing. It’s also considered to be one of the easiest college majors. With a business degree, you could also work in fields like healthcare, human resources, or public administration. (Really, there’s not much that isn’t available to you.) During college, you’ll likely take foundational courses in communications, economics, and business management before concentrating in a particular specialty, like international business or entrepreneurship. Expect to build skills in communication, management, and financial intelligence.

Median Early Career Earnings (age 22-27): $50,000
Median Mid Career Earnings (age 35-45): $80,000
Average Unemployment (age 22-27): 5.3%
Percentage with Graduate Degree: 25.2%

3) Communications

Like many of the other easiest majors in college, communications will provide you with a strong foundation for a number of different career paths, such as marketing, public relations, or sales. In essence, you’ll learn how to effectively communicate via writing, speaking, and other forms of media (such as video production). As an undergraduate, you can expect to take courses in professional writing, media communications, and public speaking. Transferrable skills will include those in research/analysis, interpersonal relationships, and organization.

Median Early Career Earnings (age 22-27): $47,000
Median Mid Career Earnings (age 35-45): $75,000
Average Unemployment (age 22-27): 5.8%
Percentage with Graduate Degree: 24.2%

4) Criminal Justice

Although typically considered to be one of the easiest college majors, criminal justice majors often have their sights set on difficult career paths in police work or corrections. However, there are many additional (and lucrative) career paths available in law, forensic psychology, and information analysis. Undergraduates may need to choose a specialty, like law enforcement or cybercrime. However, in general, you’ll learn about the criminal justice system and its related social issues and community impact. Courses could include those in criminology, crisis intervention, and public policy. Graduates should be strong communicators and decision-makers.

Median Early Career Earnings (age 22-27): $43,900
Median Mid Career Earnings (age 35-45): $70,000
Average Unemployment (age 22-27): 4.5%
Percentage with Graduate Degree: 24.1%

5) English

If English majors had a dollar for every time they heard “so what are you going to do with that?” they’d have insanely enviable bank accounts. However, English majors actually manage quite well long-term (average lifetime ROI is 169.8%). They have many options available to them in a variety of sectors, from teaching to law to healthcare. As an English major, you can expect to take multiple courses in literature–which may include survey courses as well as specialized topics that focus on a particular theme or writer. Many of your assignments will require in-depth literary analysis. In addition, you can often take workshops in creative fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Expect to graduate with skills in writing, analysis, research, and communication.

Median Early Career Earnings (age 22-27): $40,000
Median Mid Career Earnings (age 35-45): $65,000
Average Unemployment (age 22-27): 6.3%
Percentage with Graduate Degree: 47.5%

Easiest College Majors (Continued)

6) History

Think that history majors can only be historians or teachers? If so, you will be pleased to discover that history majors find employment in a variety of fields, such as archives management, museum curation, library science, politics, law, and writing. In general, history departments ensure that students have the ability to evaluate current and future issues with enhanced perspective. You’ll likely take core courses in world and US history. Then, you’ll concentrate in a particular specialty, such as geography, European history, or ancient history. History majors typically have solid skills in reading, research, and communication.

Median Early Career Earnings (age 22-27): $50,000
Median Mid Career Earnings (age 35-45): $70,000
Average Unemployment (age 22-27): 5.8%
Percentage with Graduate Degree: 50.2%

7) Hospitality

You can find hospitality majors working in a variety of sectors, such as entertainment, dining, travel, events, and lodging. In essence, they are the folks responsible for ensuring that guests have a top-notch experience. In addition, they also can be found managing large budgets, food and beverage logistics, and marketing. As an undergrad, you’ll typically take courses in hospitality management, lodging operations, and finance. Although hospitality is considered to be one of the easiest majors in college, you’ll need to be a people person and enjoy fast-paced, ever-changing environments.

Median Early Career Earnings (age 22-27): $38,000
Median Mid Career Earnings (age 35-45): $60,000
Average Unemployment (age 22-27): 5.3%
Percentage with Graduate Degree: 34.1%

8) Journalism

As a journalism major, you’ll prepare for a career distributing the news via the internet, television, radio, and/or podcast. Many journalism majors also work in public relations. In college, you can expect to take general courses in communication, speaking, writing, and production. Moreover, most programs offer specialty courses in areas like media ethics, photojournalism, and sports reporting, among others. Journalism graduates should have strong research skills, an inquisitive attitude, and the ability to work in fast-paced environments.

Median Early Career Earnings (age 22-27): $45,000
Median Mid Career Earnings (age 35-45): $75,000
Average Unemployment (age 22-27): 6.5%
Percentage with Graduate Degree: 27%

9) Public Relations and Advertising

Public relations and advertising professionals are leaders in strategic communication for businesses, social enterprises, and political entities. As an undergraduate, you’ll learn how to engage with different types of audiences in a variety of ways. For example, you may take courses in copywriting, persuasive storytelling, and media strategy. In addition, you should be very comfortable with social media. To succeed in the field, students should build skills in design, writing, and video, and be well-versed in client relations.

Median Early Career Earnings (age 22-27): $50,000
Median Mid Career Earnings (age 35-45): $80,000
Average Unemployment (age 22-27): 4.9%
Percentage with Graduate Degree: 19%

Related: Best Colleges for Advertising

10) Psychology

It’s hard to say whether English or psychology majors are on the receiving end of more jokes about how they chose one of the easiest majors in college, but psychology majors have just as many career paths available to them. Some paths require advanced degrees–like counseling and social work–which can lead to a low initial return on investment. However, career paths in business and human resources may be more immediately lucrative. Psychology is an incredibly broad field with many opportunities to specialize. Expect to take courses in human behavior, cognitive psychology, and research methods. Finally, psychology majors are often strong communicators, researchers, and critical thinkers.

Median Early Career Earnings (age 22-27): $37,400
Median Mid Career Earnings (age 35-45): $65,000
Average Unemployment (age 22-27): 4.7%
Percentage with Graduate Degree: 51%

Final Thoughts – Easiest College Majors

Choosing a major is a big decision, and we hope that you will preface your investigation with an honest inventory of your goals and interests. Creative and driven students in any field are more than capable of building the skills needed to be financially and personally successful.

For more major & career planning advice, check out the following blogs:

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Kelsea Conlin

Kelsea holds a BA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing from Tufts University, a graduate certificate in College Counseling from UCLA, and an MA in Teaching Writing from Johns Hopkins University. Her short fiction is forthcoming in Chautauqua.