What are the hardest college majors? This is one of the questions students must ask when choosing colleges. After all, the major will not only affect their future development but also determine the intensity of study in the four years of university to a certain extent. Therefore, the difficulty of professional learning has gradually become the standard for many students when choosing universities. Some students just want to enjoy colourful campus life and smoothly get a degree and graduation certificate, and easier college majors will be their priority choice. Those who want to challenge themselves and are keen on academic research will consider a more difficult major. So, how do we know if the major is difficult or not? Let’s move on.
Measuring the Hardest Majors in College?
The difficulty of a major varies from person to person. What may seem like a hard major to others may seem simple to you. Therefore, there’s no objective criterion that can be used to measure. The following are the common factors in determining the most difficult majors.
- GPA
The lower the GPA, the more difficult the major is. With lower GPAs, STEM is usually seen as the hardest college major. Compared with the humanities and social sciences, STEM majors focus more on solid foundations and hard skills, like programming languages and lab techniques. If you do not master the basic knowledge of one layer, you can not further in-depth study.
- Study hours
The more time students spend preparing for homework and learning courses, the harder their major is. Complex courses require students to devote more time and energy to digesting the knowledge. Some may need to find more materials or ask teachers for help to enhance the understanding and application of knowledge.
- Student ratings
Ideally, the more interested students are in their subject, the easier it will be. Students are the main learning body. Some scholars think students have the right to rate the degree of difficulty in the courses they learn, so they use student ratings to measure course difficulty. With enough samples and careful data analysis, the survey results can be used as one of the criteria to measure the difficulty of a major.
- Attrition
Higher attrition may be related to harder college majors. If students are not satisfied with their subjects and think they are difficult to learn, they may change their majors. Most universities in the US have formal procedures for changing majors that students must follow. Besides, lower graduate rates can also shed light on the difficulty of the major. Graduating from university smoothly is what many students expect.
- Return on investment
Once you earn the hardest degrees from your university, it’s possible that you can earn more money in your future careers. Some technical skill sets may not be easily transferrable to other disciplines, making them more competitive in their fields. Employers are willing to hire talents mastering professional skills in specific fields.
Top 10 Hardest College Majors
Below are the 10 hardest majors based on College Transitions data. The list combines data from the National Center for Education Statistics and the Bureau of Labor Statistics to identify the 10 most difficult majors based on a comprehensive ranking of 10-year average GPA, major attrition and graduation rates, return on investment, and other factors.
1. Architecture
Median Early Career Earnings (age 22-27): $50,000
Median Mid Career Earnings (age 35-45): $90,000
Average Unemployment (age 22-27): 3.3%
Average Underemployment (age 22-27): 25.1%
Percentage with Graduate Degree: 40.7%
Architecture combines art and engineering, involving a wide range of knowledge.
The architectural structure should be supported by knowledge of physical mechanics and mathematics; architectural decoration needs background knowledge in art and culture; and the architectural environment requires students to master the content of environmental science and psychology.
An architect’s license is a great test for students’ comprehensive ability. You must accumulate general and professional knowledge in the university and have certain practical skills and experience.
2. Biology
Median Early Career Earnings (age 22-27): $44,300
Median Mid Career Earnings (age 35-45): $76,000
Average Unemployment (age 22-27): 3.4%
Average Underemployment (age 22-27): 47.1%
Percentage with Graduate Degree: 62.5%
Biology can be subdivided into many fields, such as zoology, Marine biology, botany and ecology.
At the undergraduate level, biology students are required to complete courses in chemistry, mathematics, molecular biology, and genetics, as well as master relevant experimental skills.
In the process of learning, not only science, logic, calculation, and experimental operation are involved, but also knowledge point memory and writing application ability of liberal arts, which have high requirements for memory, understanding, and experimental operation ability.
3. Chemistry
Median Early Career Earnings (age 22-27): $50,000
Median Mid Career Earnings (age 35-45): $85,000
Average Unemployment (age 22-27): 2.8%
Average Underemployment (age 22-27): 40.9%
Percentage with Graduate Degree: 65.3%
Students majoring in chemistry need to learn biology, mathematics, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, physical chemistry, and other courses, which not only involve a lot of theoretical and practical knowledge but also cross many other disciplines.
Additionally, chemistry-related jobs are often more demanding, especially research-based positions, which is why almost two-thirds of chemistry students go on to further their studies after graduation.
4. Geology
Median Early Career Earnings (age 22-27): $41,000
Median Mid Career Earnings (age 35-45): $52,000
Average Unemployment (age 22-27): 1.5%
Average Underemployment (age 22-27): 19.6%
Percentage with Graduate Degree: 50.9%
Geology is a natural science focused on the Earth and celestial objects, examining the rocks they are made of and the processes that change them over time. It overlaps with other Earth sciences like hydrology and is integrated with Earth system and planetary science.
Geology provides insights into the relative ages of rocks, and geochemistry determines their absolute ages. It is globally regarded as one of the hardest college majors and the hardest degree in the world because of its complicated knowledge and long learning cycle.
5. Engineering
Median Early Career Earnings (age 22-27): $76,000
Median Mid Career Earnings (age 35-45): $97,000
Average Unemployment (age 22-27): 4.8%
Average Underemployment (age 22-27): 18.6%
Percentage with Graduate Degree: 29.4%
Engineering has many subdivisions and fusion disciplines. There are many popular and challenging majors in this branch, such as mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, communication engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, etc.
The specific courses will depend on the student’s field of specialization but generally involve core courses such as chemistry, physics, and calculus, as well as a series of difficult and intensive specialized courses.
Almost every day, students are overwhelmed by complex theoretical formulas, tedious calculations, and countless simulation experiments, facing tremendous pressure.
6. Fine Art
Median Early Career Earnings (age 22-27): $40,000
Median Mid Career Earnings (age 35-45): $68,000
Average Unemployment (age 22-27): 7.9%
Average Underemployment (age 22-27): 55.5%
Percentage with Graduate Degree: 22.6%
Fine art is made primarily for aesthetics or creative expression, distinguishing it from decorative art or applied art, which also has to serve some practical function, such as pottery or most metalwork. The five main fine arts were painting, sculpture, architecture, music, and poetry. Other “minor or subsidiary arts” were also included, especially performing arts such as theatre and dance, which were counted as “among the most ancient and universal.”
What is the toughest degree in the world? Although Fine Arts is a liberal arts major, it sounds easy. But learning art requires talent, aesthetic ability and long-lasting endurance, which is not an easy task. It is globally regarded as one of hardest college majors and hardest degree in the world.
7. Mathematics
Median Early Career Earnings (age 22-27): $65,000
Median Mid Career Earnings (age 35-45): $92,000
Average Unemployment (age 22-27): 3.4%
Average Underemployment (age 22-27): 27.6%
Percentage with Graduate Degree: 52.4%
Mathematics is one of the top hardest majors. The knowledge points of mathematics are difficult, so students need to understand the abstract concepts through a lot of practice. With strong logical thinking and problem-solving skills, students can cope with a large number of challenging courses, such as Advanced Mathematics, linear algebra, abstract algebra, and so on.
8. Philosophy
Median Early Career Earnings (age 22-27): $40,000
Median Mid Career Earnings (age 35-45): $68,000
Average Unemployment (age 22-27): 7.9%
Average Underemployment (age 22-27): 55.5%
Percentage with Graduate Degree: 22.6%
What is the hardest degree to get? There must be a place for philosophy in the answer. Philosophy is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, value, mind, and language. It is related to many other fields, including the sciences, mathematics, business, law, and journalism.
Philosophy provides an interdisciplinary perspective and studies the scope and fundamental concepts of these fields. It is one of the hardest majors in college because students need to master and understand obscure knowledge and generate their own independent thinking.
9. Computer Science
Median Early Career Earnings (age 22-27): $85,000
Median Mid Career Earnings (age 35-45): $105,000
Average Unemployment (age 22-27): 2.1%
Average Underemployment (age 22-27): 23.5%
Percentage with Graduate Degree: 48.6%
Computer science is the study of computation, information, and automation. Algorithms and data structures are central to computer science. Within artificial intelligence, computer vision aims to understand and process image and video data, while natural language processing aims to understand and process textual and linguistic data.
Computer science has become one of the most popular majors today, favoured by many parents and students alike. With the rapid advancement of science and technology, those majoring in computer science often enjoy strong job prospects and competitive salaries. However, it is also regarded as one of the most challenging college majors, making it difficult to attain a degree in this field.
10. Physics
Median Early Career Earnings (age 22-27): $62,000
Median Mid Career Earnings (age 35-45): $95,000
Average Unemployment (age 22-27): 6.2%
Average Underemployment (age 22-27): 31.2%
Percentage with Graduate Degree: 67.9%
In the undergraduate stage, students are exposed to courses such as calculus, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, and quantum mechanics. With a solid foundation of mathematics and physics, students can understand and master the complex and abstract knowledge.
With the continuous development of subdivided disciplines, some universities also require students to master more kinds of physical knowledge and practical skills. Moreover, students need to have advanced mathematics and computer science and other interdisciplinary knowledge, which is a great challenge to learning ability.
Tips for Choosing College Majors
- Self-reflection
Self-reflection is the premise of choosing college majors. A comprehensive analysis of applicants’ strengths and weaknesses can help them obtain a more objective understanding of their ability and development potential.
- Personal interest
Ask yourself what your favourite subject is, which can be a standard for choosing a college major. However, interest should combine with the reality. The hardest college majors usually have higher requirements for their applicants’ abilities. Even though you are interested in one college major, its difficulty may fail you during your college time.
- Strength of universities
Search for different majors that interest you and learn about the admission requirements and job prospects. Compare universities offering your favourite majors from several aspects, such as location, tuition and fees, student accommodation and campus culture.
- Job Prospects
Beyond interest, job prospects are also one of the most important ways to select a major. Generally, graduates from the most challenging college majors have more opportunities to earn a lot. If you have abilities to learn challenging college majors like STEM, you may make more money after graduation.
- Consult others
If you can contact your seniors in the same or similar majors, you can ask for their advice. As experienced students, they are more familiar with the actual situation and development trend of their majors. If possible, ask for their help in determining your major and university.
Conclusion: Hardest College Majors
Studying the hardest college majors may not be easy for most students. Opportunities and challenges coexist. With higher thresholds and requirements, these demanding majors require resilience, determination, and a passion for the subject matter. However, there are also benefits to getting a hard college major. Graduates from these difficult majors will gain advanced skills, be more competitive in the professional field, and earn more money than others. Based on our information, you can learn more about the hardest college majors in the US and pave the way for a future brimming with opportunities and success.
FAQ
Is nursing a major?
Yes.
Nursing is one of the hardest college majors. Its courses cover all aspects of medical knowledge, nursing skills and clinical practice. Students should prepare themselves for facing challenges physically, mentally and emotionally. Graduates from nursing will have broad employment prospects.
What are the hardest majors in college?
The top 10 hardest college majors are as follows.
- Architecture
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Education
- Engineering
- Fine Art
- Mathematics
- Nursing
- Art History
- Physics
What is the no. 1 toughest degree in the world?
Medicine.
Students majoring in medicine must take complex subjects like biochemistry, pharmacology, surgery, and internal medicine. They must also accept rigorous clinical training and long study hours and accumulate clinical experience before becoming qualified doctors.
What is the most regretted college major?
Journalism, regretted by 87% of graduates.
Sociology, 72%.
Liberal arts and general studies, 72%.
Communications, 64%.
Education, 61%.
What is the easiest major?
Psychology.
Criminal Justice.
English.
Education.
Religious Studies.
Social Work.
Sociology.
Communications.
What majors have the highest dropout rate?
The following majors have the highest college dropout rate:
Computer science – 10.7%
Advertising – 7.7%
Agriculture – 7.4%
Art – 7.3%
Architecture – 7.2%
What is the highest paying major?
Engineering. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), engineering tops the list of the highest-paying majors immediately after graduation. The highest-paying professions in the U.S. are all in the medical field and require education beyond the bachelor’s level.
What majors do people regret the least?
What are the college majors that are the least-regretted? The study, broken down, provided a stark contrast between majors and their projected earnings. For the students that followed degrees in engineering, science, technology, and math – all were expected to earn the most out of all other majors overall.
