Hardest & Easiest College Majors
- Danielle Slauter
- Feb 11
- 3 min read
Knowing what the hardest and easiest majors are in college might help you make a decision.
Figuring out your college major can be tough, mainly because not all degrees require the same amount of work.
Some subjects are famous for being super difficult, while others are known for being pretty straightforward. But, how do you actually figure out which college majors are the hardest, and which ones you might want to look at if you're aiming for an easier college experience?
We've rounded up the hardest and easiest college majors for 2026. When choosing your college and deciding between public or private university, the amount of degree programs available can definitely influence your decision. Wherever your priorities are, we're here to help you optimize your college schedule. When there are only so many hours in the day, you need to make the most of your time spent studying, too!
Looking at pre-med? We’ve got the best pre-med schools in 2026.
Jump to:
Hardest college majors
What's classed as hard for some, might not be hard for others, but these tend to be the hardest college majors.
Check out the list and see how average GPAs and time spent studying fairs between the choices.
Rank | Major | Average GPA | Avg. Weekly Study Time |
1 | Chemistry | 2.9 | 18.5 hrs |
2 | Engineering | 3.2 | 21 hrs |
3 | Physics | 3.1 | 18.5 hrs |
4 | Architecture | 3.3 | 22 hrs |
5 | Nursing | 3.2 | 17 hrs |
6 | Biology | 3.2 | 18.5 hrs |
7 | Accounting | 3.2 | 16.5 hrs |
8 | Mathematics | 3.3 | 15 hrs |
9 | Philosophy | 3.1 | 16 hrs |
10 | Fine Arts | 3.2 | 16.5 hrs |
Easiest college majors
Just because the subjects below tend to be deemed the easiest, college is still no easy feat and requires dedication and effort, regardless of how easy or hard a major is.
If you're looking for a slightly easier time at college, these are the easiest college majors on average.
If you're also thinking of maximizing the fun during your college studies, how about considering colleges by the beach to live life like a vacation every day.
Rank | Major | Average GPA | Avg. Weekly Study Time |
1 | Anthropology | 3.5 | 16 hrs |
2 | Business Administration | 3.2 | 11 hrs |
3 | Communications | 3.3 | 12 hrs |
4 | Criminal Justice | 3.0 | 12 hrs |
5 | English | 3.3 | 16 hrs |
6 | Ethnic Studies | 3.3 | 10 hrs |
7 | Hospitality | 3.0 | 25 hrs |
8 | Journalism | 3.2 | 12 hrs |
9 | Public Relations & Advertising | 3.0 | 12 hrs |
10 | Psychology | 2.9 | 10 hrs |
Psychology is a popular choice amongst many college students, and is believed to be one of the easiest college majors you could do. If you're interested, check out the best colleges for psychology.
Don't forget to read our guide to student grants for college to see if you can make your college experience more affordable.
Highest-Paying College Majors
It's no surprise that some of the hardest college majors wind up making the most money. And let's be real, you don't want to end up picking one of the worst-paying college majors, right?
If you're after the highest paying college majors, we've got you. The below salaries are baseline for recent college graduates and will likely increase with experience.
Major | Approx. Avg. Starting Salary (US) |
Computer Engineering | $80,000 |
Chemical Engineering | $80,000 |
Computer Science | $80,000 |
Aerospace Engineering | $76,000 |
Electrical Engineering | $78,000 |
Industrial Engineering | $76,000 |
Mechanical Engineering | $75,000 |
Finance | $70,000 |
Mathematics / Math | $70,000 |
Economics | $70,000 |
These college majors might pay more when you've graduated, but let's not forget how expensive college is before you've even finished. Explore tuition free universities — colleges offering free tuition — to see if you can get your studies funded.
Unlock even more with Student Beans
All your favorite brands at your fingertips, from fashion and beauty to food and drink, available to college and uni students aged 16 and over. Dive into our blog to find tips and advice to help you navigate student life, from applying to uni to life after graduation.
Sign up to a Student Beans account now or login to start saving on the biggest and best brands.
Download the Student Beans app to unlock exclusive app-only discounts to make student life a little bit more affordable.