Engineering is considered one of the more challenging disciplines, but not all engineering majors are actually equally daunting. Some areas of engineering are more accessible than others that are more theory-intensive or mathematically demanding (such as electrical engineering or aeronautical engineering) in terms of course difficulty, content and project load, making them suitable for students who are less well grounded or who want to get into the workforce more quickly. Do you want to know what is the easiest engineering degree? Here are the 10 easiest engineering degrees in the world that will help you enter the engineering industry with less stress and good job prospects.
Factors to Consider When Choosing an Engineering Degree
Choosing an engineering degree is an important decision that will not only affect your learning experience in the coming years but will also have a profound impact on your career path and life plans. The following core factors should be considered comprehensively before making a decision:
1. Areas of Interest and Expertise
It is critical to choose an engineering direction that really interests you. There are numerous engineering disciplines, including mechanical, electrical, civil, environmental, computer, chemical, and biomedical. If you like hands-on, mechanical assembly, mechanical engineering or mechatronics may be more suitable; if you are passionate about environmental protection and sustainable development, environmental engineering or renewable energy engineering will be more relevant.
2. Career Prospects
The job markets corresponding to different engineering specialisations vary considerably. Computer science, software engineering, electronics, and communications have been in high demand in recent years, and salaries are relatively high, while civil engineering and mining are subject to fluctuations in the cycle of infrastructure projects. Choosing a major with good long-term career prospects will help you to get a job or further your studies after graduation.
3. Curriculum and Study Content
Check the syllabus of your target major carefully to see if it matches your interests and abilities. Some majors favour theory and abstraction (e.g., electrical engineering, high-performance computing), while others favour practical projects and field operations (e.g., civil, environmental, traffic engineering). The same major at different schools may have different course emphases, e.g. one school’s computer science is more software engineering oriented, while others are more artificial intelligence or algorithmic studies oriented. Matching the course content to your learning style can significantly enhance the learning experience.
4. School Resources and Faculty
A school’s reputation in the field of study, laboratory facilities, internship co-ops, and research opportunities are all critical. For example, certain schools have globally leading teaching resources and industry connections in the fields of construction, mining, aerospace, or AI, and choosing these schools provides a stronger starting point. It is also a good idea to look at mentors’ research interests, industry partnerships, and employment support services.
5. Flexibility for Future Development
Some engineering majors have strong cross-border capabilities; for example, software engineering can move into a variety of fields, such as finance, healthcare, and education. In contrast, industrial engineering can move into positions such as operations management, logistics, and data analytics. If you have not yet determined your long-term career goals, it may be more prudent to choose an engineering degree with strong versatility and diverse development paths.
10 Easiest Engineering Degrees: General Overview
Engineering is often seen as one of the most challenging academic fields, combining advanced maths, science and problem-solving skills. However, not all engineering degrees are equally difficult. Some fields are considered more accessible due to a lighter theoretical load, less advanced maths requirements or a more practical, application-based curriculum. Here are the 10 easiest engineering degrees, along with the annual tuition costs.
| Engineering Degree | Recommended Cities | Average Tuition per Year (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineering | Atlanta, Singapore, Beijing | $12,000 – $40,000 |
| Civil Engineering | Melbourne, London, Shanghai, Singapore | $10,000 – $38,000 |
| Environmental Engineering | Berkeley, Zurich, Tokyo, Beijing | $12,000 – $42,000 |
| Agricultural Engineering | Florida, Wuhan, Wageningen | $8,000 – $30,000 |
| Software Engineering | Waterloo, Toronto, Singapore, Hangzhou | $12,000 – $45,000 |
| Engineering Management | Cornell, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Bath | $10,000 – $35,000 |
| Geomatic Engineering | Wuhan, Calgary, Zurich, Sydney | $9,000 – $28,000 |
| Telecommunication Engineering | Beijing, Munich, Sydney, Southampton | $10,000 – $38,000 |
| Transportation Engineering | Berkeley, Shanghai, Delft, Singapore | $11,000 – $40,000 |
| Architectural Engineering | Sydney, Sheffield, Penn State, Shanghai | $10,000 – $36,000 |
What are the Easiest Engineering Degrees
The term ‘easiest engineering degree’ is relative, and different people will have different opinions based on their own interests, skills, and study backgrounds. However, in general, the following 10 easiest engineering degrees are considered to be relatively easy to get started with or less theoretically taxing:
1. Industrial Engineering (IE)
Industrial Engineering is one of the easiest engineering degrees, closely aligned with management and emphasising systems thinking. It focuses on optimising an organisation’s processes and systems to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance overall productivity. Industrial Engineering focuses more on practical issues such as data analysis, process management, and human factors engineering than engineering majors that require a lot of higher-order maths, mechanics, or electromagnetism. It is suitable for students who are not entirely interested in abstract theory but want to pursue a career in business management, supply chain, or process optimisation with an engineering background. Courses are often structured, projects are moderately complex, and there is little theoretical pressure, making it a ‘soft landing spot’ for many students entering the engineering field.
- Recommended Universities: Georgia Institute of Technology (USA), Purdue University (USA), Tsinghua University (China), National University of Singapore (Singapore).
- Entry Requirements: Upper intermediate high school maths; some physics foundation required; TOEFL/IELTS scores
- Curriculum: Operations Research, Engineering Economics, Quality Control, Supply Chain Management, Human Factors Engineering
- Career Opportunities: Process Analyst, Production Manager, Logistics Coordinator, Business Optimisation Consultant
- Graduation Time: 4 years (some schools can finish in 3.5 years)
2. Civil Engineering
Civil engineering is one of the oldest and most practical engineering specialities. It is concerned with the design and construction of infrastructure such as roads, bridges, dams, and buildings. Although the major includes some structural analysis and mechanics of materials courses, it has relatively limited theoretical depth and places more emphasis on field practice and standard applications for students who like to get their hands dirty or are interested in urban construction. Civil engineering course schedules are usually more fixed, moderately computationally intense, and do not involve too many abstract formulas. Due to the clear career path and stable employment direction, it is often regarded as one of the easiest engineering degrees.
- Recommended Universities: Imperial College London (UK), Tongji University (China), University of Melbourne (Australia), NUS (Singapore).
- Entry Requirements: Mathematics and Physics in high school; some universities emphasise drawing ability; IELTS 6.5 or above.
- Courses: Structural Mechanics, Concrete and Steel Structure Design, Water Resources Engineering, Surveying and Construction Technology
- Career Opportunities: Structural Engineer, Project Supervisor, Water Resources Engineer, Construction Manager
- Graduation Time: 4 years (3 years in some countries)
3. Environmental Engineering
Environmental Engineering focuses on ecological protection, water resource management, air pollution control and waste treatment, and is a cross-discipline of science, policy and engineering. Compared with traditional engineering majors such as mechanical and electrical engineering, it is more ‘liberal arts’, with a large amount of policy analysis and environmental assessment in the curriculum, less emphasis on high-level mathematics and physics, and more practical and less abstract. For students who care about the environment and aspire to a green and sustainable career, this major offers an easy-to-learn and valuable path.
- Recommended Universities: UC Berkeley (USA), ETH Zurich (Switzerland), Tsinghua University (China), The University of Tokyo (Japan)
- Entry Requirements: Intermediate science foundation, especially in chemistry; a cross-over background in arts and sciences is acceptable; high English reading and writing requirements
- Courses: Environmental Chemistry, Water Treatment Engineering, Solid Waste Treatment, Air Pollution Control, Sustainable Engineering
- Career Opportunities: Environmental Consultant, Water Engineer, Government Environmental Project Manager, Environmental Impact Assessment Specialist
- Graduation Time: 3.5 – 4 years
4. Agricultural Engineering
Agricultural Engineering combines biotechnology, mechanical engineering and soil science, and focuses on applications such as crop production automation, irrigation system design, and agricultural machinery. Courses are practical and relatively low in theoretical difficulty, making it the first choice for many students who favour outdoor work or an agricultural background. The programme focuses on practical operation and system design, and does not require much advanced mathematics or abstract theory.
- Recommended Universities: University of Florida (USA), Wageningen University (Netherlands), University of Guelph (Canada)
- Entry Requirements: High school science foundation is sufficient; some courses are not mandatory physics background; medium English requirements
- Courses: Agricultural Machinery, Irrigation Systems, Biomass Utilisation, Soil and Water Management
- Career Opportunities: Agricultural Equipment Engineer, Irrigation System Designer, Agricultural Researcher, Rural Infrastructure Planner
- Graduation Time: 4 years
5. Software Engineering
Software engineering is a combination of computer science and engineering management, learning how to systematically develop, maintain and manage software projects. Compared with computer science, software engineering focuses more on project processes, teamwork and user needs analysis, with less pressure on mathematical theory. It is suitable for students who have good logical thinking but do not like high-level maths. In addition, the industry demand is strong, with many employment opportunities, and it is one of the most cost-effective and easiest engineering degrees.
- Recommended Universities: Carnegie Mellon University (USA), NUS (Singapore), University of Waterloo (Canada).
- Entry Requirements: Good high school maths, programming foundation preferred; some courses require submission of artwork or test scores.
- Curriculum: Software Requirements Analysis, Testing and Quality Assurance, System Modelling, Front-end and Back-end Development
- Career Opportunities: Software Development Engineer, Product Manager, Test Engineer, System Architect
- Graduation Time: 3 – 4 years
6. Engineering Management
Engineering Management bridges the gap between technology and business, integrating programmes in project management, systems engineering, quality control and financial analysis. It places more emphasis on team leadership, budgetary control and decision analysis than traditional engineering, and requires less in-depth maths and complex physics. Many of the courses are centred on case studies and real-world projects, making it ideal for future students who wish to move into management in the workplace or transition into technical leadership. It’s also one of the most common pathways into engineering for transfer students.
- Recommended Universities: Cornell University (USA), Monash University (Australia), University of Bath (UK)
- Entry Requirements: Science or business background, with emphasis on communication and organisational skills; some courses do not require a physics background.
- Curriculum: Project Management, Operations Research, Cost Control, Technical Leadership, Quality Engineering
- Career Opportunities: Project Manager, Engineering Coordinator, Manufacturing Supervisor, Technical Operations Analyst
- Graduation Time: 3 – 4 years
7. Surveying and Mapping Engineering
Surveying and Mapping Engineering is a discipline that collects and analyses topographic, architectural and spatial data using modern surveying equipment (e.g. GPS, laser scanners). The course is highly technical but of low theoretical complexity, with a focus on practical exercises, making it one of the most application-oriented specialisations. For students who enjoy geography, spatial data or working outdoors, this is a relatively easy and practical engineering path.
- Recommended Universities: UNSW (Australia), ETH Zurich (Switzerland), University of Calgary (Canada)
- Entry Requirements: High school maths and geography are a plus; advanced physics is not normally required.
- Courses: GPS Surveying, Cartography, Remote Sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Land Management
- Career Opportunities: Land Surveyor, GIS Engineer, Urban Planning Consultant, Navigation System Designer
- Graduation Time: 4 years
8. Telecommunication Engineering
Telecommunication Engineering focuses on signal transmission, wireless networks, fibre optic technology, etc., which are widely used in areas such as the Internet, broadcasting, and 5G. Compared with electronic engineering or information engineering, it has a slightly shallower theoretical depth, and the course is more biased towards the application level of communication protocols, equipment deployment, and other content. Especially in recent years, communication standards have matured, and the course is more standardised and easier to grasp.
- Recommended Universities: University of Southampton (UK), TU Munich (Germany), University of New South Wales (Australia).
- Entry Requirements: A good foundation in maths, with basic circuits knowledge being a plus; Physics is a supplementary course.
- Courses: Signals and Systems, Wireless Communications, Network Protocols, Optical Fibre Communications, RF Engineering
- Career Opportunities: Communications Equipment Engineer, Wireless Network Planner, 5G Base Station Technician, Network Optimisation Specialist
- Graduation Time: 3 – 4 years
9. Transportation Engineering (TEE)
Transportation Engineering is a sub-field of Civil Engineering, focusing on transport system planning, road design, intelligent transport, and optimisation of public transport systems. It has moderate mathematical requirements, with an emphasis on data analysis and planning models, as well as a large number of hands-on projects based on real urban transport that are easy to understand and apply. The profession is considered one of the most intuitive engineering fields with the most intuitive impact on society, with a wide range of employment opportunities and a low barrier to entry.
- Recommended Universities: University of California, Berkeley (USA), TU Delft (Netherlands), Nanyang Technological University (Singapore)
- Entry Requirements: Good high school maths; interest in transport systems preferred; some schools require a background in urban planning.
- Courses: Traffic Flow Theory, Road Design, Urban Traffic Planning, Traffic Modelling and Simulation, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS).
- Career Opportunities: Traffic Engineer, Urban Traffic Analyst, Public Transport System Consultant, Smart City Project Manager
- Graduation Time: 3 – 4 years
10. Architectural Engineering
Architectural Engineering is situated between civil engineering and architectural design and is concerned with building structures, materials application, construction techniques and building equipment systems. It focuses more on technical realisation and less on artistic creativity than architecture, and the curriculum is more practical. It has a moderate depth of theory, with geometry and physics as the main support, and does not require much abstract modelling. It is suitable for students who like the built environment but don’t want to take the design route.
- Recommended Universities: Pennsylvania State University (USA), University of Sheffield (UK), University of Sydney (Australia)
- Entry Requirements: Science background preferred; some drawing skills required; some schools require a portfolio.
- Courses: Building Structure, Building Materials, Construction Technology, Building Energy System, Building Regulations
- Career Opportunities: Building Construction Engineer, Structural Designer, Building Technology Consultant, Project Construction Coordinator
- Graduation Time: 4 years
What is the Salary for the Easiest Engineering Degree?
An engineering degree has long been seen as a sure pathway to a well-paying career. Whether in the fields of technology, construction, energy or manufacturing, engineers have always been at the centre of what makes the world go round. That’s why having an engineering degree not only means you’ve got the practical skills, it also means you’re likely to be on a fast track to a higher-paying career after graduation. Of course, different engineering specialisations, regions of the country, experience in the field and industry differences can significantly affect salary levels.
| Engineering Degree | Average Annual Salary (USD) |
|---|---|
| Industrial Engineering | $70,000 – $90,000 |
| Civil Engineering | $65,000 – $85,000 |
| Environmental Engineering | $60,000 – $80,000 |
| Agricultural Engineering | $55,000 – $75,000 |
| Software Engineering | $80,000 – $120,000 |
| Engineering Management | $75,000 – $100,000 |
| Geomatic Engineering | $60,000 – $80,000 |
| Telecommunication Engineering | $70,000 – $95,000 |
| Transportation Engineering | $65,000 – $90,000 |
| Architectural Engineering | $65,000 – $85,000 |
Benefits of Earning an Engineering Degree
High-paying employment opportunities: Engineers generally have high starting salaries and career potential, especially in fields such as software, petroleum, electrical, and data, where starting salaries tend to be higher than in other majors.
Stable career development: The engineering industry has a growing demand for skilled personnel, and many positions offer long-term stability and good advancement paths.
Problem-solving skills: An engineering education emphasises logical, mathematical, analytical, and problem-solving skills, which are helpful in a wide range of industries.
Multiple career paths: People with an engineering background can not only do technical work, but can also move into management, consulting, entrepreneurship, and even finance and IT.
FAQ
Which engineering major is hardest?
Among all engineering majors, electrical engineering is often considered the hardest due to its intense focus on advanced mathematics, abstract concepts, and complex problem-solving. Students must master subjects like calculus, differential equations, electromagnetism, signal processing, and circuit design—many of which are highly theoretical and challenging to visualize.
Which engineering is least difficult?
Among the various engineering disciplines, industrial engineering is generally considered the least difficult by many students. This field focuses more on optimizing systems, improving efficiency, and managing processes rather than dealing with highly complex math or intensive technical design.
Which engineering is easy and highest salary?
Software engineering is considered one of the easier engineering fields and also offers some of the highest salaries, especially in tech industries.
What is the least stressful engineering?
Industrial engineering is often considered the least stressful engineering field due to its focus on systems optimization, management, and efficiency, with less emphasis on complex technical or theoretical work.
What is the most fun engineering major?
Mechanical engineering is often considered the most fun engineering major because it involves hands-on projects, designing and building machines, and applying physics in creative, practical ways.
What is the easiest engineering job to get?
Civil engineering is often considered the easiest engineering job to get due to high demand, clear career pathways, and frequent entry-level opportunities in both public and private sectors.
Which engineer is most in demand?
Software engineers are currently the most in-demand engineers globally, driven by rapid growth in technology, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital services across nearly every industry.
Which engineering has the least math?
Industrial engineering has the least math compared to other engineering fields. It focuses more on process optimization, systems management, and human factors, using practical math like basic statistics and linear programming rather than advanced calculus or complex physics.
what is the easiest engineering degree？
Industrial engineering is widely considered the easiest engineering degree due to its focus on practical systems, efficiency, and management with less advanced math and physics.
Which engineering has the most math?
Electrical engineering has the most math, involving advanced calculus, differential equations, and complex mathematical modeling.
