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If you want a college degree you can realistically complete online, the easiest paths are typically in fields like Liberal Arts, Business Administration, General Studies, Psychology, and Communications.
These programs are known for flexible schedules, relatively straightforward coursework, and generous credit transfer or accelerated options.
Many reputable universities offer “fast-track” or self-paced online degrees where you can graduate in as little as 12–24 months if you transfer previous credits or maximize year-round study.
Life happens—jobs, family, or financial pressures can make returning to school intimidating. The good news is, online degrees have become more accessible and more respected.
Choosing a degree labeled “easy” doesn’t mean it’s not valuable; it just means the coursework is manageable, the requirements are less math- or lab-intensive, and the program is designed with adult learners in mind.
The ideal “easy” online degree lets you:
1. Liberal Arts or General Studies
Liberal Arts (sometimes called General Studies or Interdisciplinary Studies) is the classic “easy” online degree—not because it’s a joke, but because it’s built for flexibility. You get to choose from a range of subjects like history, literature, social science, or philosophy, usually with very few strict requirements.
There’s little to no math, and you can transfer in a variety of past credits.
Real-World Example: Let’s say you’ve got credits from different majors, or you started college years ago but never finished. Liberal Arts lets you roll those credits into a single, manageable degree. You’ll read, write, analyze, and discuss, not memorize formulas or run lab experiments.
Feature
Details
Typical Duration
12–24 months (with transfers/accelerated study)
Core Coursework
Humanities, social science, and electives
Lab/Math Requirements
Minimal—focus on essays and projects
Flexibility
Very high—pick classes that interest you, many self-paced options
Fast-Track Options
Yes—test out of classes, use life/work credits, prior learning credits
Typical Careers
Administration, sales, customer service, management, grad school prep
If you want to finish a degree for a career boost or personal goal, and you want as little stress as possible, this is often the smoothest path. It’s perfect if you love reading, writing, and thinking about big ideas—less so if you crave hands-on science or advanced math.
2. Business Administration
Business degrees remain among the most popular and accessible online, because nearly every industry needs business-savvy employees. Coursework tends to focus on fundamentals—management, marketing, accounting (basic, not advanced), and human resources.
There are usually no science labs and limited math, especially in “General Business” or “Management” tracks.
Feature
Details
Typical Duration
18–36 months (faster with credits or self-paced platforms)
Core Coursework
Management, marketing, business law, intro finance, operations
Lab/Math Requirements
Basic math (algebra, intro statistics), little to no advanced coursework
Flexibility
High—year-round starts, competency-based modules, and many transfer options
Fast-Track Options
Yes—CLEP/DSST exams, transfer credits, self-paced sessions
Typical Careers
Entry-level business, sales, HR, admin, office manager, entrepreneur
This is the “Swiss Army knife” degree—broad, practical, and respected. If you want a credential that’s useful in lots of office or business settings, but don’t want to get bogged down in tough technical content, this fits the bill. Many people use a business degree to climb the career ladder or even start their own venture.
3. Psychology
Psychology degrees online are designed for readers, thinkers, and anyone fascinated by human behavior. These programs are generally very light on math and heavy on essays, discussions, and reading.
Labs are usually not required for undergrads, and group work can often be done virtually.
Feature
Details
Typical Duration
18–36 months (accelerate with credits or by testing out)
Core Coursework
Intro psych, development, personality, abnormal psych, research
Lab/Math Requirements
Minimal—some stats, but mostly reading/writing
Flexibility
High self-paced, asynchronous options, generous credit transfer
Fast-Track Options
Yes—test out of intro courses, transfer gen eds, year-round terms
Typical Careers
HR, social services, counseling prep, sales, marketing, advocacy
This is a fantastic choice if you like understanding people and ideas, and you don’t want to get stuck doing high-level math or science. It’s also a natural stepping stone if you’re thinking about a master’s in counseling, HR, or social work.
4. Communications
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Communications is one of the least technical—and most “people-focused”—degrees you can get online. The major involves lots of presentations, essays, group projects, and digital communication assignments.
If you enjoy writing, teamwork, and creative work, this field is friendly and often very flexible.
Feature
Details
Typical Duration
18–36 months (possible to finish faster with summer/mini-terms)
Core Coursework
Public speaking, digital media, writing, PR, interpersonal comm
Lab/Math Requirements
Very low—no required advanced math, no science labs
Flexibility
High—lots of electives, self-paced/accelerated sessions available
Fast-Track Options
Yes—credit for work experience, test out, portfolio assessment
Typical Careers
Marketing, PR, customer relations, media, admin, content creation
If you’re a natural communicator, enjoy sharing ideas, or want to move into roles in marketing, media, or public relations, this degree makes life easy. You’ll rarely find a more flexible path, especially if you already write or work with people in your job.
5. Criminal Justice
Criminal justice is a popular “second career” or adult degree because it’s straightforward, practical, and focused on real-world scenarios rather than heavy theory.
There are no science labs, little math, and much of the coursework is case-study-based or open-book.
Feature
Details
Typical Duration
18–36 months (accelerated if you already work in the field)
Core Coursework
Policing, corrections, criminology, law, ethics, investigations
Lab/Math Requirements
None—no advanced science or math required
Flexibility
High—frequency start dates, practical assignments
Fast-Track Options
Yes—credit for work experience, police academy training, transfer
Typical Careers
Law enforcement, legal assistant, security, probation, advocacy
If you want to work in law enforcement or legal support, or just want a no-nonsense degree that’s mostly scenario-based, criminal justice is a great fit. It’s especially friendly for those coming from military or first responder backgrounds, as you can often turn prior training into credits.
6. Early Childhood Education
@elteinternational 📚 Introducing the Early Childhood Education BA program at ELTE — designed for those curious about supporting the development of children under 3 through creative play, storytelling, arts, and outdoor activities. 🌱🎨 🎞 Watch the full video on our YouTube channel! 🎥 #ELTE #EarlyChildhoodEducation #BachelorProgram #EducationDegree ♬ eredeti hang – Eötvös Loránd University – Eötvös Loránd University
This degree is designed for hands-on, project-focused learners who want to work with children but don’t want to spend years in school. Most coursework is practical—lesson planning, observation, and basic child development.
While some states may require in-person observation hours, many programs help you do these locally or even online.
Feature
Details
Typical Duration
18–36 months (can be faster with credits or work experience)
Core Coursework
Child development, teaching strategies, and curriculum planning
Lab/Math Requirements
There is little or minimal focus on observation and practical projects
Flexibility
Medium to high—some fieldwork may be required, but local options
Fast-Track Options
Yes—prior childcare experience, transfer credits
Typical Careers
Preschool teacher, daycare, teacher’s aide, after-school programs
If you’re already working in a childcare setting or want to move into one quickly, this is one of the most direct and doable online paths. You’ll be learning by doing, not just taking exams. Just make sure you check your state’s licensure rules if you want to teach K-12.
7. Health Science (Non-Clinical)
Want a healthcare degree but don’t want to do patient care, hospital shifts, or science labs? Non-clinical health science is an admin-focused path covering healthcare systems, policy, and management. No hospital rounds or biology labs are required.
Feature
Details
Typical Duration
18–36 months
Core Coursework
Health policy, healthcare admin, ethics, info systems
Lab/Math Requirements
None—reports and case studies rather than science or math labs
Flexibility
High—many self-paced options, year-round start
Fast-Track Options
Yes—credit for healthcare experience, certifications, transfer
Typical Careers
Medical admin, insurance, patient services, office manager
If you’re detail-oriented and want a degree that leads to in-demand jobs (but don’t want to do hands-on clinical work), this is an easy fit. It’s particularly useful for people already working in healthcare offices who want a bump in pay or responsibility.
8. Information Technology (IT) – Generalist
IT degrees don’t have to mean coding all night or building computers from scratch. Many “generalist” IT programs focus on support, troubleshooting, or entry-level admin. Much of the work is certification-based (think CompTIA A+ or Google IT Support), and labs are virtual.
Feature
Details
Typical Duration
18–36 months (can accelerate with certs or transfer credits)
Core Coursework
IT fundamentals, support, networking basics, info security
Lab/Math Requirements
Minimal—labs are virtual, and math rarely goes beyond basic algebra
Flexibility
High self-paced options, year-round sessions
Fast-Track Options
Yes—credit for prior certs, test out, portfolio
Typical Careers
Help desk, IT support, junior sysadmin, tech coordinator
If you’re “good with computers” but don’t want to be a full-stack developer, this degree gets you into the tech world fast, without the coding bootcamp grind. Most programs let you work ahead if you already have experience or IT certifications.
How to Finish Faster With Any Online Degree
Fast-Track Strategy
How It Works
Example Programs
Transfer Credits
Use old college or military credits
All listed above
Credit by Exam
CLEP, DSST, or school “competency” exams
Business, Liberal Arts, Psych
Prior Learning Assessment
Get credit for work or life experience
Business, IT, Early Childhood
Self-Paced/Competency-Based
Work ahead—finish classes as fast as you master the material
IT, Business, Health Science
Mini-Terms or Year-Round
Take back-to-back 6–8 week courses, not just semesters
Communications, Psych, Business
Are “Easy” Online Degrees Legitimate?
Yes, as long as you choose a regionally accredited college or university. What makes these degrees “easy” isn’t a lack of value—it’s that they’re designed for real-world flexibility, low barriers, and broad skillsets.
They’re especially valuable if you want to finish fast, need to balance school with life, or already have professional experience.
Final Thoughts
Getting a degree online doesn’t have to be a multi-year slog through endless lectures or impossible assignments. By choosing a practical major—like Liberal Arts, Business, Psychology, Communications, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, Health Science, or IT—you’ll find paths built for speed, flexibility, and success.
The “easy” route is often the smart route, especially if you know what you want and take advantage of transfer credits, prior learning, and self-paced options.
If you want help picking the right school or need advice about your credits, just ask. With the right plan and some honest work, you can finish your degree and open the door to better jobs, more confidence, and a real sense of achievement.
