What Degree Is Easiest? Online Courses You Can Actually Finish

Wondering which online degree won’t eat up your weekends or slowly drain your sanity? You’re not alone—lots of folks search for the easiest way to grab that diploma without melting into a puddle of stress. But here’s the catch: what feels easy for one person might be a nightmare for someone else.

Some degrees just have a lighter workload on average. Think business administration, communications, or liberal arts. These usually don’t include heavy science labs or a ton of advanced math. Plus, online versions often skip group projects (thank you, technology), which means fewer headaches juggling everyone’s schedules. If you’re working full-time or handling family stuff, these degrees fit right into a packed life.

But you shouldn’t just jump into the first “easy” degree you spot. If you hate writing papers, avoid degrees heavy on essays. If you love number-crunching or spreadsheets, look for business or IT programs—they might not feel hard if that’s your jam. Weird but true: some schools even let you test out of classes if you can show you already know the material. That’s a huge shortcut most people miss.

• What Makes a Degree 'Easy' Anyway?
• Popular Online Degrees That Feel Manageable
• Factors That Can Change the Game
• Shortcuts and Hacks for Earning Your Degree Faster

What Makes a Degree 'Easy' Anyway?

If you think about it, there’s no magic degree that’s just a walk in the park for everyone. What people usually call the easiest online degree comes down to a mix of a few real-life things.

First, some degrees demand less time every week. For example, a 2023 report from EducationData.org showed that students in communications and general studies programs averaged 10 fewer hours of homework a week compared to engineering or nursing majors. That adds up fast if you’re balancing work or family.

Second, ‘easy’ can mean fewer tough requirements. Some degrees skip science labs, long internships, or advanced math. You can spot these differences by checking program outlines on school websites before signing up. Here’s a quick breakdown to give you an idea:

The third thing is flexibility. Some programs let you work at your own pace. You finish faster if you’re motivated, and there’s less stress meeting strict deadlines. Schools that offer “competency-based” courses are big on this—if you can prove you know the stuff, you can skip assignments or even full classes.

Here’s a quick list of things that usually make a degree feel easier for most people:

• Fewer math or science requirements
• No required labs or field work
• No big internships during the semester
• Mostly reading, quizzes, or discussion boards
• Flexible deadlines and pacing

Remember, your strengths play a big role here. If you're a pro at writing or get bored by equations, what’s “easy” boils down to what feels natural to you. So always check the fine print before picking a program.

Popular Online Degrees That Feel Manageable

Not every online degree drags you through endless tough tests or impossible projects. Some majors actually let you breathe and still look solid on a resume. If you’re aiming for the easiest online degree, here are a few that show up over and over on lists for manageability and flexibility.

• Business Administration: This is the go-to for a reason—most programs have flexible assignments, straight-forward tests, and real-world projects. You'll find a lot of case studies and group discussions, but not a lot of hard math or science unless you go for a highly specialized track.
• Communications: You’ll spend your time writing reports, building presentations, and studying media trends. It’s less about memorizing facts and more about expressing ideas clearly. No science labs or crazy calculations.
• Liberal Arts: Probably the broadest category, these degrees cover literature, history, philosophy, and culture. Great for folks who prefer reading and discussion over exams and formulas. Assignments lean heavy on essays and forum posts.
• Psychology: If the idea of heavy science freaks you out, don't worry. Most online psych degrees stick to theory, case studies, and paper writing. Labs aren’t a thing for many programs, and statistics can often be tackled with the help of online tools and guides.
• General Studies: This is the wild card—super flexible. You can mix and match classes that work for you, so you don’t get stuck hating half your schedule. Perfect for someone who wants to finish school without locking in a focus.

To give you a real sense of what these popular online degrees look like, check out this breakdown:

Here’s something else a lot of people ignore: how many students actually finish. According to a 2023 survey from BestColleges.com, online degrees in communications and business top the list for graduation rates, beating out tougher majors like engineering. That’s real proof these programs are doable, even if you’re busy juggling work and family.

If you get bored quickly or just want options that don’t trap you with a single boring subject, online general studies or liberal arts programs are worth a shot. They open doors to all kinds of basic desk jobs while letting you finish school at your own pace.

Factors That Can Change the Game

So you’ve picked what looks like the easiest online degree, but it’s not always smooth sailing. There are a bunch of factors hiding in plain sight that can make any degree surprisingly hard or, on the flip side, even simpler. Let’s break down what actually makes a difference.

• Your Learning Style: If you prefer hands-on activities but sign up for a degree loaded with reading and writing, it’ll drag. Flip it, and suddenly school feels way more doable.
• School Policies: Some colleges give crazy flexibility—like self-paced courses or generous credit transfers. Others stick to strict deadlines, group work, or mandatory live sessions. Those details stack up.
• Support Systems: Good academic advisors, speedy tech help, and easy-to-reach tutors can save you hours of headaches. Schools with poor support? Expect minor issues to turn into time-sucking problems.
• Class Size and Format: Smaller classes often mean more feedback, but they can also mean stricter grading. Automated, recorded lectures mean less interaction but more scheduling freedom. Know what works for you.
• Your Own Schedule: Are you working? Raising kids? A flexible degree can let you study at night or knock out assignments on weekends, but that’s only helpful if you can actually stick to a routine.

Take a look at how these factors stack up in real life:

If you really want a quick degree, know which of these matter most for your life. For example, a busy parent might care way more about self-paced classes than club activities. And don’t ignore those hidden costs—some "easy" programs sneak in extra fees for testing or textbook access. Pros usually peek at forums and reviews before enrolling to spot any red flags that could mess up their schedule.

Shortcuts and Hacks for Earning Your Degree Faster

Trying to shave months (or even years) off your online degree? The right tricks can turn a marathon into a quick jog. The best part is, most people have no idea some of these options exist. Colleges don’t always advertise them, so knowing what to ask for makes all the difference.

• Credit for Previous Experience: Tons of online schools give you credit if you’ve worked in the field, taken professional training, or served in the military. This isn’t just theory—some business and IT degrees let you knock out up to 30 credits just for what you already know. Always ask about Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) or Prior Learning Assessment (PLA).
• Test Out of Courses: Test-out exams, like CLEP or DSST, let you prove what you know and skip required courses. Over 2,900 colleges accept CLEP exams. Each passed exam can save you a course (and the bill for it). If you’re fast at picking up info or have old knowledge to dust off, CLEP is your new best friend.
• Accelerated Terms: Many online degrees use 8-week or 10-week terms instead of the usual 16-week semester. That means you can squeeze in double the courses per year. Schools like Western Governors University offer rolling starts, so you can dive in and finish at your pace.
• Transfer Credits: If you’ve been to college before, drag those past credits with you. Most online programs will accept transfer credits as long as you earned a decent grade—usually a C or higher. It’s common to transfer up to half your total credits needed for graduation.

Here’s how these hacks really add up for a quick degree:

One last tip: Watch out for hidden policies. Some schools have a cap on transfer or exam credits. Always read the fine print and talk to an academic advisor before you start racking up outside credits. The perfect mix of these hacks could land you an accredited degree in as little as 12 to 18 months if you push hard and stay organized.