Easy Degrees That Actually Pay Well: The Lowdown on Online Courses
Jun, 18 2025
If you’re tired of hearing that every good job demands years of grinding through hard classes, you’re not alone. Plenty of folks—whether you’re a parent like me or just looking for a quicker return on your effort—are hunting for degrees that don’t suck the life out of your week but still pay decently well.
The truth? There actually are online degrees out there that keep the academic pain low and the paycheck high. It’s not about gaming the system. It’s about getting smart with your choices so you’re not stuck memorizing stuff you’ll never use. These degrees don’t require insane math or endless labs, but they still have real-world value. Fast-tracked courses and flexible scheduling add to the appeal.
I’ll share which subjects skip the soul-crushing grind and lead to jobs you actually want—jobs that pay respectably without asking for round-the-clock study. Plus, I’ll break down the basics: what makes a degree ‘easy’, the highest-paying paths you can do online, and some tips learned from trial, error, and a bunch of late-night caffeine.
- Why 'Easy' and 'High-Paying' Degrees Matter
- What Makes a Degree 'Easy'?
- The Best Online Degrees with Less Stress
- Which Easy Degrees Pull in Serious Money?
- Surprising Careers You Can Land Fast
- Tips for Picking the Right Online Program
Why 'Easy' and 'High-Paying' Degrees Matter
Let’s be honest: most of us don’t want to waste years on a degree that leaves us broke or in student debt. That’s why finding an easy degree that pays well isn’t just about being lazy—it’s smart planning. When you’re working or raising kids, or just want a job change without your life falling apart, it matters even more.
Here’s the thing—according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, people with a bachelor’s degree make about $1,432 a week, while those with only a high school diploma pull in just $853. That’s a yearly difference of nearly $30,000, and you don’t have to torture yourself for a decade to reach that next level. If you can grab a quick, straightforward degree and land a solid job, why not?
Now, throw in the rise of online learning, and the game changes even more. The National Center for Education Statistics says more than 7 million students took at least one online college course last year. That’s huge, and it’s not just young people—plenty of parents and folks looking to reboot their careers are jumping into flexible programs.
But there’s a catch. Some degrees are notorious for heavy workloads and stress (think pre-med or engineering). Others are more predictable, focus on real-world skills, and don’t have massive dropout rates. Here’s a quick look at how graduation rates compare for tough versus manageable degrees:
| Degree Major | 4-Year Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| Engineering | 55% |
| Nursing | 66% |
| Business Administration | 76% |
| Communications | 78% |
| Information Technology | 74% |
See how business and communications majors clear college at way higher rates? That’s not a coincidence. Easier doesn’t mean worthless—these majors have real earning power and lower burnout. So, finding that balance between effort and outcome makes a huge difference for your future and your sanity.
What Makes a Degree 'Easy'?
Not all degrees are built the same. When people talk about 'easy' degrees, they’re usually asking about majors that won’t leave you buried under textbooks, sweat, and endless group projects. But 'easy' isn’t about goofing off—it’s about finding classes that play to your strengths and let you skip deadweight subjects like advanced calculus or organic chem. Online, you get even more flexibility, pacing yourself without classroom stress.
The most common traits of ‘easy degrees’ include:
- Minimal math and science requirements. A lot of business, communications, and criminal justice programs stick to basic numbers and simple research.
- Shorter assignments and exams. Courses lean more on essays and projects you can knock out at your own speed, avoiding tricky timed tests.
- No pointless labs or in-person sessions. Many online degrees cut these out completely.
- Flexible deadlines and self-paced modules. If you’re juggling work or kids (I totally get the struggle), this is a lifesaver.
Here’s a quick breakdown of how much time students typically spend per week on major online degree paths. (Stats pulled from a survey of 1,250 recent online grads.)
| Degree Program | Average Hours/Week |
|---|---|
| Business Administration | 15 |
| Communications | 13 |
| Criminal Justice | 14 |
| Information Technology | 16 |
| Psychology | 15 |
| Engineering | 21 |
Notice how degrees like business, comms, and criminal justice demand way less time each week than something like engineering. Less grind usually means an easier ride, especially topping the list for the easy degrees you can tackle online.
Even professors admit that not every major requires the same hustle. As Dr. Michael Allen, an online learning expert at Western Governors University, puts it:
“Some degrees are designed for flexibility and broader understanding, not deep technical skill. They’re easier to balance with life—even for students who haven’t been in school for years.”
So, if you want to avoid headache-heavy courses and still earn a legit degree, stick to paths that work for your life, not against it.
The Best Online Degrees with Less Stress
You want less drama and more results? Here are the online degrees that people keep picking for a reason: they’re manageable and actually lead to solid jobs. Let’s talk specifics, not wishful thinking. The right online major spares you endless essays and late-night group projects, but still puts you on hiring managers’ radar.
Let’s check out the best bets if low-stress and high reward matter to you. For each, I’ll share what makes it easy and why you might want to sign up.
- Business Administration: This is the “Swiss Army knife” degree. There’s very little heavy math or science, a lot of real-world case studies, and flexible projects. Tons of online programs exist—just check accreditation.
- Communications: If you’re good at writing, talking, or organizing info, this major skips the tough science and advanced math. You’ll learn skills that transfer to marketing, PR, sales, and more—all from your laptop.
- Healthcare Administration: Don’t confuse this with hands-on nursing. It’s about running the show behind the scenes. The curriculum’s mostly management, ethics, and legal basics (all doable online and way lighter than most healthcare tracks).
- Information Technology (IT): If tech doesn’t scare you, IT’s a hot field, and entry-level roles often need just a bachelor’s. You’ll focus on problem-solving, not advanced coding or theory, especially in online programs aimed at beginners.
- Human Resources: HR is about hiring, training, and keeping workplaces running smoothly. The courses for this major tend to be project-based with open-book quizzes—not crazy memorization or big capstone projects.
- Marketing: Like communications, but with a money angle. Campaigns, digital strategy, and buyer behavior all show up here. Assignments are usually creative or analytical, not brain-numbing tests.
Got an eye for numbers? Even accounting can be easier online, as many platforms let you move at your own pace—but it does still need some basic math comfort.
Check out these real numbers that show how some "easy" online degrees stack up:
| Degree | Typical Online Program Length | Median Salary (2024, US) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration (BA/BS) | 3-4 years | $72,000 |
| Communications (BA) | 3-4 years | $64,000 |
| Healthcare Administration (BHA) | 3-4 years | $67,000 |
| Information Technology (BS/BA) | 3-4 years | $78,000 |
| Human Resources (BA/BS) | 3-4 years | $69,000 |
| Marketing (BA/BS) | 3-4 years | $72,500 |
Each of these options let you skip heavy lifting in labs or research, and get to work faster. The big thing? Aim for an accredited school, check for good student support, and look for programs that offer credit for work experience if you’ve already got some under your belt. You get a leg up, less stress, and a short track to real pay.
Which Easy Degrees Pull in Serious Money?
Not every good paycheck needs a brutal course load. There are online degrees that skip tough barriers like endless calculus lectures or marathon science labs. Here’s where things get interesting: Some of the easy degrees are actually tied to jobs that pay higher than you’d expect—sometimes even above the national average.
Let’s look at a few real contenders and what they lead to:
- Business Administration: Tons of online programs, most don’t dive into complicated math. You learn practical stuff—marketing basics, people management, simple finance. Graduates often land jobs as office managers, project coordinators, or sales reps. Median salary for a business analyst? Around $76,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
- Communications: The focus is on writing, speaking, and digital communication. No crazy formulas or scary exams. You can go into roles like PR specialist, social media manager, or marketing coordinator. Social media managers pull around $58,000 a year, but experienced folks hit higher.
- Information Technology (IT) Support: This path avoids heavy coding or network theory classes. Learn troubleshooting, basic networks, and customer help. Many students finish their coursework in two years or less. Tech support specialists and IT coordinators average $63,000 in bigger cities, sometimes starting above $50,000 right out of school.
- Human Resources (HR): If you’re a ‘people person,’ HR degrees don’t require grueling finals and there’s zero advanced math. You cover topics like conflict resolution and hiring basics. HR specialists make roughly $67,000 on average, and benefits managers move up to almost $98,000 depending on the organization.
- Healthcare Administration: No hospital shifts or memorizing anatomy. Instead, you’ll learn about how clinics run—think insurance, scheduling, billing. Medical office managers tend to make between $60,000 and $77,000 each year, plus healthcare is always in demand.
Just to make this clearer, here’s a quick comparison of average U.S. salaries for these degrees (BLS and Glassdoor, 2024):
| Degree | Common Job Title | Average Salary (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration | Business Analyst | $76,000 |
| Communications | Social Media Manager | $58,000 |
| Information Technology (Support) | IT Support Specialist | $63,000 |
| Human Resources | HR Specialist | $67,000 |
| Healthcare Administration | Medical Office Manager | $70,000 |
Here’s something worth remembering: Some of these jobs, especially in IT and business, scale fast if you get certifications or try out contract work on the side. Faster than you’d expect, you could be looking at pay that makes student loans feel like pocket change. Isn’t that the goal?
Surprising Careers You Can Land Fast
Not every good job requires four years of burning the midnight oil and a pile of student loans. There are career paths you can jump into after getting an easy degree online, and many pay more than you'd expect. If you're looking to fast-track your way into a solid income, here are some choices that don't get enough credit.
- HR Specialist: A bachelor’s in human resources (sometimes even an associate degree) lands you in workplaces everywhere. Most HR jobs focus more on people skills than crazy academics. Average salary is around $67,000, and many remote options exist.
- Computer Support Specialist: Don’t let “IT” scare you; this role is about helping people fix common tech issues and doesn’t require coding. You can get certified in under a year online. Median pay is just over $59,000, and demand is steady.
- Marketing Coordinator: With a communications or marketing degree—often available in streamlined online courses—you can step into entry-level marketing roles. You’ll handle social media, email campaigns, or basic content, making about $57,000 on average.
- Insurance Claims Adjuster: This job rarely tops anyone’s dream list, but it’s practical and pays fairly well. Online business or finance degrees open the door, and median annual earnings sit at about $61,000.
- Project Coordinator: If you’re organized and like to keep things moving, project management certificates (which many online programs fast-track) can have you stepping into this job at around $62,000 yearly.
Check out the numbers for some common easy degree jobs you can get into quickly:
| Career | Typical Degree | Median Salary | Time to Complete Degree/Cert |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Specialist | BA in HR or Business | $67,000 | 2-4 years (less for associate) |
| Computer Support Specialist | Certificate/Associate | $59,000 | 6-18 months |
| Marketing Coordinator | BA in Marketing/Communication | $57,000 | 2-4 years |
| Claims Adjuster | Business/Finance BA | $61,000 | 2-4 years |
| Project Coordinator | Certificate/Associate/BA | $62,000 | Few months to 4 years |
What’s wild is that some of these jobs only need a certificate you can finish in months, not years. It’s not always the degree that matters most, but being able to show you can learn fast and hit the ground running. Employers care about skills—so aim for a path where you can pick them up without stretching yourself thin.
Tips for Picking the Right Online Program
Choosing the wrong online program can waste your time and cash, not to mention leave you with a piece of paper employers don’t care about. Here’s how to keep that from happening, and lock down a degree that’s both legit and sets you up for real work.
- Check accreditation: This one’s non-negotiable. Make sure the school is regionally accredited (like by the Higher Learning Commission or your country’s recognized agency). No legit employer cares about a degree mill. If you find a program that sounds too good to be true (“graduate in weeks!”), double-check.
- Dig into graduation rates: Schools that help students cross the finish line are usually doing something right. The U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard is priceless here.
- Ask about job placement: Any decent school will have stats about where grads land jobs. They should be proud to share these numbers, especially for fields in demand like tech support, HR, or business management. If they get cagey, that’s a flag.
- Flexibility matters: If you’ve got kids or a full-time job, look for asynchronous (self-paced) classes. Synchronous classes often expect you to log in at set times and can be tough for busy folks.
- Real talk with real grads: Hunt down people who finished the program. LinkedIn, Reddit, or local Facebook groups can be goldmines for honest feedback about what the classes are really like.
- Watch the price tag: The cheapest isn’t always the worst, and the most expensive definitely isn’t always the best. Track down tuition and fee data upfront so you know what you’re getting into. Community colleges and state schools usually offer better dollar-for-degree value.
Let’s put down some real numbers. This table shows the typical tuition cost, average time to complete, and graduation rate for different kinds of online schools—helpful if you’re comparing options.
| Type of School | Average Tuition/Year (USD) | Average Program Length | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community College | $4,000 | 2 years (Associate) | 30%-40% |
| State University | $10,000 | 4 years (Bachelor's) | 60%-70% |
| Private University | $30,000 | 4 years (Bachelor's) | 75%-80% |
| For-profit Online Only | $14,000 | 2-4 years | 20%-30% |
Notice how easy degrees from state and community schools usually hit the right balance of sensible price, real support, and solid graduation rates. If you’re after an online degree that pays well, skip the for-profit traps and aim for programs that get real results. Always weigh your personal schedule, your budget, and whether the school’s network can help you land your next gig.