What Is the Easiest Degree To Get in the World?

No single degree is easy for everyone, but some majors consistently ask less of students in terms of grades, study time, and math-heavy coursework. If you want a degree that opens doors without overwhelming your schedule, knowing which fields fit that description can help you plan with more confidence.

Education is the major most often named as the easiest degree to get, and research on grading and study habits backs up that reputation. Below, you'll see why education earns that label, which other majors come close, and practical ways to make any degree easier to finish, whether you study in the U.S. or abroad.

What Is the Easiest Degree To Get?

Education is widely considered the easiest degree to earn. A study published in Education Policy Analysis Archives found that students in university education departments receive significantly higher grades than students in other departments, and the author concluded that the gap reflected more lenient grading rather than stronger students or smaller classes.

Study time points in the same direction. Indiana University's National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) reported that full-time education seniors spent about 15 hours a week preparing for class, compared with 19 hours for engineering seniors. Still, "easiest" is relative, and a degree that feels effortless to one student can feel demanding to another depending on your strengths, interests, and schedule.

Why Education Is Often Called the Easiest Degree

Several features of education programs make them more manageable than many other majors. These factors explain why the field so often lands at the top of easiest-degree rankings.

Higher Average Grades

Education courses tend to award higher grades than courses in the sciences, engineering, or economics. Assignments often center on lesson plans, reflections, and classroom observations rather than high-stakes exams, which gives you more ways to demonstrate what you've learned.

Lighter Math and Lab Requirements

Unless you specialize in teaching math or science, most education programs require only general education math and science courses. You'll avoid the advanced calculus, physics, and chemistry sequences that make STEM degrees so demanding, and you can compare other online degrees with limited math if numbers aren't your strong suit.

Practical, Hands-On Coursework

Much of what you learn in an education program applies directly to real classrooms. Courses in child development, classroom management, and instructional methods tend to feel intuitive, especially if you've worked with children or tutored before, and student teaching lets you build skills through practice instead of abstract theory.

A Clear Path From Degree to Career

Education programs are designed around state licensure, so the steps from coursework to student teaching to certification are clearly laid out. That built-in structure reduces guesswork, and you can explore the easiest education degree programs by specialization if you already know which age group you'd like to teach.

Other Degrees Often Considered Easy

Education isn't the only major with a reputation for being manageable. These fields also appear on many easiest-degree lists because of their flexible requirements, writing-based assignments, or broad course options.

• Communications: Coursework focuses on writing, presenting, and media analysis rather than heavy math. Many students find that the easiest communications degree programs build on skills they already use every day.
• Psychology: Introductory courses cover relatable topics like human behavior and development, although statistics and research methods add some challenge. A bachelor's in psychology also leads into many careers outside of clinical practice.
• Criminal justice: Classes in law enforcement, corrections, and the court system are largely reading- and discussion-based. The degree connects directly to entry-level roles in public safety and the legal system.
• General studies: This flexible degree lets you choose courses from several disciplines and often accepts a wide range of transfer credits. Many affordable online general studies programs are designed for adults finishing a degree they started years ago.
• English: Reading and writing make up most of the workload, which suits students who enjoy literature and analysis. The challenge comes from volume rather than technical difficulty.
• Sociology: Courses examine social groups, inequality, and institutions through reading, discussion, and essays. Sociology often appears among the easiest social sciences degrees because of its light quantitative load compared with economics.
• Business administration: Broad, practical coursework covers management, marketing, and finance basics. NSSE data placed business seniors among the students spending the least time preparing for class, at about 14 hours a week.

What Makes a Degree Easier for You

The easiest degree for you is usually the one that matches what you're already good at. If you're a strong writer, a reading-heavy major in communications, English, or history may feel natural, while someone who enjoys numbers might find accounting or math easier than a writing-intensive humanities program.

Interest matters just as much. Students who care about their subject tend to stay motivated through tough courses, and programs with flexible formats, such as online, asynchronous classes or self-paced terms, can make even a moderately challenging major easier to fit around work and family. Comparing the easiest bachelor's degrees to earn by field and format can help you find the best match.

The Easiest Degree Levels To Earn

Associate degrees are generally the easiest to earn because they take about two years of full-time study and focus on foundational coursework. Many community colleges also have open admissions, so you won't face the competitive selection process common at four-year universities, and several fields offer some of the easiest associate degrees you can earn online.

Bachelor's degrees take longer and include more upper-level coursework, but they also offer greater earning potential and career options. Graduate degrees in education, such as a Master of Education, tend to be less demanding than graduate programs in law, medicine, or engineering, though they still require more independent research and writing than undergraduate study.

Ways To Make Any Degree Easier To Earn

Choosing an easier major is only one strategy. These options can reduce the time, cost, and effort needed to finish almost any degree.

• Exam-based credit: The College Board's College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) lets you earn credit by passing exams in subjects you already know. CLEP credit is accepted at thousands of colleges, though each school sets its own policies.
• Credit for prior learning: Many colleges award college credit for life and work experience through portfolios, professional certifications, or military training. This can be especially valuable if you've spent years working in your field.
• Transfer credits: Credits from a previous college, community college, or dual enrollment program can shorten your path to a degree. Ask for a transcript evaluation before you enroll so you know exactly what will count.
• Competency-based programs: In these programs, you advance by demonstrating mastery rather than by logging seat time. Competency-based bachelor's degrees can move quickly through material you already understand.
• Accelerated terms: Many online schools offer five- to eight-week courses with multiple start dates each year. Focusing on one or two courses at a time can make your workload feel more manageable.

Earning a Degree Outside the U.S.

In some parts of the world, earning a bachelor's degree takes less time than it does in the U.S. Bachelor's programs in England and much of Europe typically last three years and focus on a single subject from the start, so you won't take the broad general education requirements that most American colleges require.

A shorter program isn't automatically easier, however, since these degrees often rely heavily on final exams and independent study. If you plan to use a foreign degree in the U.S., expect to have it reviewed by a credential evaluation service, and keep in mind that teaching licenses and other professional credentials may require additional steps when you return.

Career Outlook With an Education Degree

An education degree most commonly leads to a teaching career. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, kindergarten and elementary school teachers earn a median annual wage of $63,820, and while overall employment is projected to see little or no change through 2035, about 99,400 openings are expected each year as teachers retire or leave the profession.

Those steady openings mean qualified teachers remain in demand in many districts, particularly in high-need subjects and rural areas. If you'd like to reach the classroom quickly, many schools offer fast-track teaching degrees that combine coursework, student teaching, and licensure preparation.

FAQs About the Easiest Degree To Get

Choosing a major based on difficulty raises plenty of practical questions. These answers address a few common concerns about easier degrees.

Is an Online Degree Easier Than an On-Campus Degree?

Online degrees generally cover the same material and meet the same academic standards as on-campus programs at accredited schools. They can feel easier to manage because of flexible scheduling, but they also require strong self-discipline and time management.

What Is the Hardest Degree To Get?

Engineering, physics, chemistry, and architecture are frequently ranked among the most demanding majors. NSSE data showed engineering seniors spending more time preparing for class than students in any other field, largely because of advanced math and lab requirements.

Can You Earn a Degree Without Taking Math?

Most accredited bachelor's programs require at least one general education math course, so avoiding math entirely is rare. However, majors like communications, English, and education typically stop at an introductory course such as college algebra or quantitative reasoning.

Do Employers Care If You Chose an Easier Major?

Many employers focus more on whether you have a bachelor's degree than on your specific major, especially for entry-level roles. Your internships, work experience, and skills often matter more than the perceived difficulty of your field of study.

Is an Education Degree Only Useful for Teaching?

An education degree also prepares you for roles in corporate training, instructional design, educational administration, and youth programs. The communication, planning, and leadership skills you build can transfer to many careers that involve teaching or developing others.

Explore Degree Options That Fit Your Strengths

Learn.org offers information and resources to help you compare majors and find a degree that matches your skills and schedule. Browse programs through Learn.org and connect directly with schools to get personalized information on admission requirements, transfer credit, and course formats.