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Every college major requires work, but some fields of study are more rigorous than others. For instance, you won’t find many people who think that pre-med is a snap. While earning your undergrad degree won’t be effortless, there are definitely some college majors that won’t be as difficult.
Choosing a less challenging 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.
Key Points
• Some college majors are considered easier due to lighter workloads, fewer technical requirements, or more flexible coursework.
• Majors such as marketing, human resources, hospitality, communications, public relations, and sports management can lead to well-paying careers.
• Fields such as history, anthropology, liberal studies, and English can also offer high salaries in roles including public policy, publishing, or museum curation.
• Job outlook, passion for the subject, and the school’s prestige are worth considering when selecting a major.
• Regardless of the major chosen, financial planning is crucial, and students may need a mix of federal and private student loans to fund their education.
What Makes a Major “Easy”?
The workload for an easier major, such as creative writing, probably won’t be as intensive as, say, biomedical engineering, neuroscience, or applied mathematics. You likely won’t have long lab sessions, lengthy problem sets, and other arduous assignments.
This could make achieving higher grades a simpler proposition, and your good grades could give you an advantage after graduation. You might be able to step into a higher-paying job more easily, which could in turn 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, communications, or public relations.
Marketing careers that can pay off over time:
• Average entry-level salary: $35,220 for a marketing assistant
• Average mid-career salary: $121,658 for a marketing manager
As you see from that mid-career pay grade, a six-figure salary could be right 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, payroll management, and workplace development training.
In terms of landing a well-paying job, here are some salaries to note:
• Average entry-level salary: $43,211 for an HR assistant
• Average mid-career salary: $123,167 for an HR manager
3. Hospitality
Do you love looking at fabulous 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 entry-level salary: $58,787 for an event planner
• Average mid-career salary: $95,667 for a hotel manager
These figures are notably higher than $48,403, which Indeed cites as the current average starting salary for new graduates in the U.S.
Recommended: How Do You Change Your Major?
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 entry-level salary: $97,018 for a corporate communications assistant or $60,439 for a social media assistant
• Average mid-career salary: $122,341 for a corporate communications manager and $112,746 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 PR often involves frequent communication with clients and the public, this field can offer some of the best jobs for extroverts.
• Average entry-level salary: $62,703 for a public relations specialist
• Average mid-career salary: $133,149 for a public relations manager
6. Liberal Studies
A liberal studies or liberal arts major provides great 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, education, or academia.
• Average entry-level salary: $89,771 for a public policy analyst
• Average mid-career salary: $150,417 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 same kind of coursework that 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 entry-level salary: $59,847 for a museum curator
• Average mid-career salary: $86,261 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: $72,600 for a library archivist
• Average mid-career salary: $86,139 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 entry-level salary: $63,382 for a junior copywriter, $60,323 for a junior graphic designer, or $61,325 for a junior sales rep
• Average mid-career salary: $123,448 for a copywriting manager, $180,849 for a graphic design director, or $99,390 for a senior advertising account executive, all of which can be a good salary for a single person
10. English/Creative Writing
Many people may consider an English or creative writing major 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 editor at a publishing company or magazine. These may all be lower-stress jobs that are good for introverts.
• Average entry-level salary: $62,287 for an entry-level proofreader
• Average mid-career salary: $96,100 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 entry-level salary: $109,812for an athletics director
• Average mid-career salary: $116,629 for a sports facility manager
12. Criminal Justice
If you’re always watching true crime dramas on TV, you might be interested in majoring in criminal justice. While this field of study may be considered easy compared to 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 entry-level salary: $67,770 for a fraud investigation officer or $63,966 for a police officer (plus, you might eventually qualify for federal student loan forgiveness programs)
• Average mid-career salary: $124,496 for a fraud manager or $155,933 for a director of investigations
Factors Besides Difficulty
Now you know 12 relatively easy majors that can lead to jobs with high salaries. But it’s worthwhile to consider some other factors 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?
The amount of time and effort a college major requires can depend on the school, the curriculum, the 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 2026 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 computer science, engineering, and math and sciences.
Photo credit: iStock/Drazen Zigic
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