Every college major requires work, but some fields of study are more rigorous than others. For instance, you won’t find too many people who think that pre-med is a snap. While earning your undergrad degree isn’t going to be effortless, there are definitely some easier college majors out there that won’t be as taxing.
Choosing a less complex major doesn’t mean you’re doomed to a low-paying job for life. In fact, it can be quite the opposite. Read on to learn about 12 relatively easy college majors that can lead to jobs that pay well.
What Makes a Major “Easy”?
The workload for an easier major, like creative writing, probably won’t be as intensive as that of, say, biomedical engineering, neuroscience, or applied mathematics. You likely won’t have long lab sessions, tons of problem sets, and other arduous assignments.
This could make achieving higher grades a simpler proposition. Your noteworthy grades could, in turn, help you get a leg up after graduation. You might be able to step into a higher-paying job more easily, which could help you pay off any private school loans for college you might have.
A college major can also feel easier if it’s a field you’re interested in and passionate about. Your excitement about a major will likely make going to class something you’ll look forward to and the work required seem like less of a drag.
Recommended: A Guide to Choosing the Right College Major
12 Easy College Majors That Ultimately Pay Well
While getting an entry-level job paying a six-figure salary isn’t the norm for these easy college majors, you could still earn big bucks down the road.
Here, you’ll learn about 12 easy majors along with some average entry-level salaries and mid-career pay for positions within each field, according to Salary.com.
1. Marketing
A marketing degree opens up many career possibilities. People who major in marketing can find positions in all types of companies, industries, institutions, and nonprofits. Jobs in marketing include positions focusing on a business’s or brand’s strategy, sales techniques, advertising and communications, or public relations.
Marketing careers can pay off over time.
• Average entry-level salary: $35,516 for a marketing assistant.
• Average mid-career salary: $91,870 for a marketing manager.
As you see from that mid-career pay grade, a six-figure salary could be just around the corner.
2. Human Resources
With a college degree in human resources (HR), you can work in many different roles, including talent recruitment, benefits administration, DEI initiatives, or workplace development training.
In terms of landing a well-paying job, here are some salaries to note:
• Average starting salary: $43,386 for an HR assistant.
• Average mid-career salary: $94,576 for an HR manager.
3. Hospitality
Do you love looking at fab resorts and restaurants in your social media feeds? This major might be a perfect fit for you. With a degree in this field (which likely doesn’t involve any science labs), you might work in an array of positions. Some examples: hotel, resort, or restaurant management; event planning; or travel booking and tourism, among others.
Some salaries to note for this college major:
• Average starting salary: $50,949 for an event planner.
• Average mid-career salary: $76,898 for a hotel manager.
These figures are notably higher than $43,262, which Indeed cites as the current average starting salary in the U.S.
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4. Communications
As one of the most popular college majors, a communications degree can prepare you for many different career paths. Marketing (mentioned previously) can fall under the umbrella of communications. Other areas for employment with this degree include public relations, advertising, journalism, writing, broadcasting, publishing, and social and digital media development.
A sample of the salaries you might expect at different points in your career:
• Average starting salary: $51,928 for a corporate communications assistant or $45,955 for a social media assistant.
• Average mid-career salary: $125,700 for a corporate communications manager and $116,090 for a social media manager.
5. Public Relations
Public relations (PR) has a broad reach. If you’re looking to capitalize on a degree in public relations, you might find a job in a small or large PR agency, a corporate PR department, or as an independent consultant to various clients. Since working in PR often involves frequent communication with clients and the public, this field can offer some of the better jobs for extroverts.
• Average starting salary: $49,383 for a public relations specialist.
• Average mid-career salary: $93,556 for a public relations manager.
6. Liberal Studies
A liberal arts or liberal studies major allows for a lot of flexibility and variety when it comes to job prospects. Students majoring in liberal arts or studies participate in a multi-disciplinary program, often including courses in humanities, history, art, literature, science, and philosophy. Earning a liberal studies degree can offer students a chance to develop many important “soft skills,” including problem solving, communication, and analytical and critical thinking.
Someone with a liberal arts degree may be drawn toward work in libraries, arts administration, government, or education and academia.
• Average starting salary: $66,575 for a public policy analyst.
• Average mid-career salary: $147,140 for a public policy manager.
7. Anthropology
Anthropology focuses on the study of humans in different cultures and societies, spanning various time periods and locations. It may not involve the kind of coursework that, say, studying law does, but it can be a fascinating field.
An anthropologist can work for ethnic or cultural organizations, museums, historical sites, research firms, or as a social or community services manager.
• Average starting salary: $47,660 for a museum collectors curator.
• Average mid-career salary: $64,962 for a museum director.
8. History
Knowledge of the past can be a powerful career springboard. Besides becoming a historian, history majors may find work in journalism, teaching, and politics. People with history degrees can also possibly find work at historical societies, museums, and libraries.
• Average entry-level salary: $57,015 for a library archivist.
• Average mid-career salary: $85,724 for a senior librarian.
9. Advertising
Advertising often taps a student’s interest in sales and contemporary consumer culture. Careers for advertising majors range from creative pursuits (copywriting or art direction, for instance) to more business-driven ones, such as being an account coordinator or a sales rep.
• Average starting salary: $47,346 for junior copywriter, $45,686 for a junior graphic designer, or $43,300 for a junior sales rep.
• Average mid-career salary: $122,524 for a copywriting manager, $122,236 for a graphic design director, or $107,183 for a senior advertising account manager, all of which can be a good salary for a single person.
10. English/Creative Writing
An English or creative writing major may be what many people consider easy. Depending on the path you take, it could lead to a high-paying job. People who choose this field may pursue a job as a proofreader, copy editor, technical writer, book editor, author, or an editor at a publishing company or magazine. These may all be lower stress jobs that are good for introverts.
• Average starting salary: $44,750 for an entry-level proofreader.
• Average mid-career salary: $98,101 for a senior editor.
11. Sports Management
Anyone who loves sports (whether participating, watching, or both) may be attracted to a major in sports management. Sports management encompasses a wide array of jobs, including becoming a sports agent, an athletic director, or a sports facility manager.
• Average starting salary: $51,539 for a sports coordinator position.
• Average mid-career salary: $69,061 for a sports manager job.
12. Criminal Justice
If you’re always watching procedural dramas on TV, you might be interested in majoring in criminal justice. While this field of study may be considered easy as compared with, say, a mathematics major, that doesn’t mean a career in criminal justice isn’t going to be challenging and rewarding.
Jobs for criminal justice majors can include working in the areas of law enforcement, forensics, investigations, and crime prevention.
• Average starting salary: $50,733 for a fraud investigation officer or $56,376 for a police officer (plus, you might eventually qualify for federal student loan forgiveness programs) .
• Average mid-career salary: $123,694 for a fraud manager or $90,671 for a chief detective position at a business.
Factors Besides Difficulty
Now you know 12 relatively easy majors that can lead to a job with high pay. But it’s worthwhile to consider some other factors that should be considered when choosing a college major.
Job Outlook
Some fields are growing faster than others. As you think about your major, it can be a good idea to make sure the one you choose will lead to a field that is growing and will have plentiful job opportunities after college. For instance, if you have a criminal justice degree and want to work in fraud investigations, you might find that there’s considerable growth in digital fraud and focus your education to prepare you for that kind of work.
Passion/Interest
Sometimes what makes coursework in college seem easy is that you love it. Ask any astrophysics major. They may think what they are studying is hard, but because they love it, the pursuit feels engaging and worthwhile.
In other words, if you are passionate about a subject, that can be a good reason to major in it, even if it has a reputation for being hard.
School Prestige
When it comes to getting a high-paying job after graduation, it can help if you pursue a program that your school is known for. For instance, some universities are renowned for having great journalism programs, and that reputation could give graduates an advantage in the job market.
The Takeaway
Getting an undergraduate degree, no matter what the major, requires hard work and dedication. However, there are some majors that fall into the “easier” category such as communications, anthropology, and history. These majors may not require as intensive a curriculum as others (say, chemical engineering), but grads can still go on to earn high salaries.
Regardless of whether your major is considered hard or easy, you may need some help paying for your education.
If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.
FAQ
Is an “easy” major looked down on?
There may be some people who think certain majors are easy, but virtually all college majors require hard work. After graduation, hiring managers are likely looking for someone who performed well in school, is enthusiastic about their studies, and wants to apply their skills to their chosen career.
Do easy majors require less study time?
How much time and effort a college major requires can depend on the school, the curriculum, and a student’s approach to their studies and their aptitude. It’s not possible to say that all easy majors require less study time.
What are the highest paying majors overall?
According to a 2024 report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the highest paying majors are those in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) category. The three highest paying majors are engineering, computer sciences, and math and sciences.
Photo credit: iStock/Drazen Zigic
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