Easiest Online Degrees

Online degrees and online classes are becoming more and more popular every year. They became even more popular during the pandemic. In fact, from the fall of 2019 to the fall of 2020, the number of undergraduate students taking online courses increased by 97 percent according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The number continues to grow because students have discovered the ease, convenience, and flexibility of online courses and programs.

What is an Online Degree?

Online degrees are degree programs that are completed online. Some are 100 percent online, while others may be hybrids. Hybrid programs combine online work with on-campus work. Despite what many people believe, online degrees offer the same credibility as on-campus programs. They also have much of the same content and are even taught by the same instructors.

Students do assignments and take tests, but they’re not sitting in a classroom with other students. Online students listen to lectures but do it in the comfort of their homes rather than in a classroom. The advantage of online learning is that the student can log into the classroom at their convenience. The only thing you really need to earn an online degree is a computer with internet access, sufficient memory on the computer, and the motivation to learn and do the work.

Who Should Go After the Easiest Online Degrees?

Almost anyone interested in getting a degree can earn it online, but they are especially convenient for some students. A stay-at-home mother might want an online degree because it allows her to be at home with her children while still earning a degree. A person who can’t afford to quit his or her job to attend daily classes on campus might find an online degree to be the ideal choice.

Perhaps you’re a person who doesn’t like being around crowds. An online degree may be the perfect solution. The bottom line is that almost anyone can choose an online degree. Students new to this might want to look for the easiest online degrees. Below you will find 15 of what many consider the easiest online degrees as well as some info on each of them.

15 Easiest Online Degrees with Career Prospects and Salary Information

1. Computer Science

Computer science is a field that offers jobs like computer programmers, computer technicians, cybersecurity specialists, network technicians, software engineers, and more.

• Typical Admission Requirements – GPA of 3.0 in competency courses; ACT score of at least 20
• What type of Degrees are Offered Under this Major – Possible online computer science degrees include an associate’s in computer programming, a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, and a master’s degree in computer science.
• Time to Graduate – Online associate degrees can be completed in a little over a year, while master’s degrees may take two to four years.
• What Makes it Easier – Students can work at their own pace.
• Career and Salary Info – The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts 2021-2031 could bring a job growth of ten percent for computer programmers and 25 percent for software engineers. The average annual wage for these two professionals was $93,000 and $120,730 respectively in 2021.

2. Criminal Justice

Criminal justice is a field that offers jobs as paralegals, police officers, probation officers, detectives, and forensic technicians, among others. Online degrees can be found at associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.

• Typical Admission Requirements– Application, ACT scores, or entrance exam
• What type of Degrees are Offered Under this Major – Possible online criminal justice degrees include an Associate’s degree in paralegal studies; a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement, and a master’s degree in criminal justice. Depending on the job, the candidate may have to attend a police academy after completing online courses.
• Time to Graduate – Depending on the degree, from 18 months to four years
• What Makes it Easier – There are not a lot of admission requirements, and students can take as few or as many classes as they want.
• Career and Salary Info – The BLS states that paralegals, police officers, and social workers could see job growth of 14 percent, three percent, and nine percent. These professionals earned annual average wages of $56,230, $66,020, and $50,390 as of May 2021.

3. Psychology

An online degree in psychology can lead to jobs as caseworkers, psychology assistants, psychiatric aides, substance abuse counselors, and psychologists. Some psychology programs may require on-site internships.

• Typical Admission Requirements– High school diploma for an associate degree or bachelor’s degree for higher degrees with a GPA of 2.0; official transcripts from all schools attended; and application
• What type of Degrees are Offered Under this Major – Associate of Science in Substance Abuse Disorder, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Master of Science in Forensic Psychology, and Ph.D. in Psychology
• Time to Graduate – 18 months to two years for an associate; two to four years for a bachelor’s, two to three years for a master’s, and two to three years for doctoral degrees
• What Makes it Easier – Classes can be customized for the student’s goals and are online, allowing students to work at their convenience.
• Career and Salary Info – The BLS states the predicted job growth is nine percent for psychiatric aids, nine percent for caseworkers, 22 percent for substance abuse counselors, and six percent for psychologists. These professionals earned annual average wages of $36,230 $50,390 $48,520 and $81,040, respectively.

4. Liberal Arts

Online liberal arts degrees, which can help you build a variety of skills, is offered at the associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degree level.

• Typical Admission Requirements– completion of general education courses and prerequisites like math and statistics; application; and transcripts from schools attended
• What type of Degrees are Offered Under this Major – Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts, Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Master of Arts in English, and Creating Writing
• Time to Graduate – Depending on the degree and student’s commitment, it can take from one to six years or more to complete.
• What Makes it Easier – Most of the liberal arts programs are fully online and self-paced.
• Career and Salary Info – Average annual wages of $50,710, $61,820, and $78,060 were earned by graphic designers, high school teachers, and technical writers. The predicted job growth for each of these from 2021-2031 is three percent, five percent, and six percent.

5. Business Administration

Business administration degrees, which can prepare you for several career opportunities, are offered at the associate, bachelor, and master’s degree levels.

• Typical Admission Requirements– These may vary by program and school, but requirements are generally a high school diploma or degree if pursuing a graduate degree, an entrance exam, and an application.
• What type of Degrees are Offered Under this Major – Associate in Business Fundamentals, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and Master of Science in Business Administration.
• Time to Graduate – Associate degrees can be completed in less than two years with bachelor’s and master’s taking from two to six years.
• What Makes it Easier – There are many affordable business administration degree programs that offer flexible learning and a customized curriculum.
• Career and Salary Info – Individuals in business and financial operations are expected to see a seven percent job growth between 2021 and 2031. Administrative assistants earn an average annual wage of $39,680, while IT managers earned about $159,010 overall.

6. Nursing

Online nursing degrees are available at the associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degree levels depending on if the student wants to be an LPN, RN, or APRN.

• Typical Admission Requirements– Must have adequate scores on entrance exams, be an LPN or RN for the upper-level programs and must meet the program’s required GPA.
• What type of Degrees are Offered Under this Major – In addition to the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSB), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), some schools also offer accelerated nursing programs.
• Time to Graduate – Anywhere from one year to seven years depending on the program
• What Makes it Easier – Students can complete coursework at home while continuing to work as a nurse. Most nursing programs do require a clinical internship.
• Career and Salary Info – The BLS indicates that LPNS and RNs should see job growth of six percent, while APRNs should see a 40 percent growth. The average annual wages for these three professions as of 2021 were $48,070 $77,600 and $123,780.

7. Healthcare

Healthcare is a vast field that offers so many career opportunities. Online degrees are offered at all levels from associate to doctorate.

• Typical Admission Requirements– Admission requirements vary by school and the degree pursued, but most programs require an application, a degree with a 3.0 GPA, and completion of certain prerequisite courses.
• What type of Degrees are Offered Under this Major – Associate of Science in Health Sciences, Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration, Master of Science in Health Informatics, and EdD in Healthcare Administration
• Time to Graduate – The time to graduate, from 18 months to seven or more, depends on the program and if the student is part-time or full-time.
• What Makes it Easier – Other than the clinical internship requirements, the students can complete the rest of the program online.
• Career and Salary Info – Jobs in Healthcare are expected to increase 13 percent during the 2021-2031 decade. Salaries vary by job. Health information technologists earned about $55,560, while medical and health services managers earned about $119,840.

8. English

Many colleges offer online English degrees at all levels from associate degrees right up to doctoral degrees.

• Typical Admission Requirements– There are generally no entrance exams for lower degrees. Higher degrees require transcripts with specific GPA requirements.
• What type of Degrees are Offered Under this Major – Associate of Arts in English, Bachelor of Science in English and Writing, Master of Science in the English language, and Ed,D. in English Language Learning
• Time to Graduate – The duration for these programs ranges from one year to six or more.
• What Makes it Easier – These online programs are convenient, affordable, and very flexible.
• Career and Salary Info – Technical writers can expect job growth of six percent, while English professors can expect a five percent growth by 2031. The average annual wage for these two occupations is about $78,060 and $75,930.

9. Communications

Although online communication degrees are offered at every level, the bachelor’s degree is the one most commonly chosen.

• Typical Admission Requirements– Must submit an online application and all transcripts from all colleges attended. Online communication degrees don’t usually have a lot of admission requirements.
• What type of Degrees are Offered Under this Major – Associate of Arts in Communication, Bachelor of Arts in Communication, and Master of Arts in Communication. Some of these also have concentrations.
• Time to Graduate – Online bachelor’s degrees can be completed in two to four years depending on the student’s time and commitment, while associate and master’s degrees can be completed in 18 months and three to four years, respectively.
• What Makes it Easier – Most online communication programs are 100 percent online, and many don’t require an entrance exam or application fee. The programs are affordable and offer various areas of concentration.
• Career and Salary Info – Individuals in communication and media jobs could see a six percent growth between 2021 and 2031. Editors earned an average annual wage of $63,350, while news reporters earned $48,370, and public relations specialists earned $62,800 in 2021.

10. Marketing

With the addition of online shopping, marketing is stronger than ever, and online marketing degrees are offered at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree.

• Typical Admission Requirements– Most online marketing programs do not have many admission requirements other than an application. A student pursuing a master’s may be required to have a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA, and one pursuing a doctoral should have a master’s degree.
• What type of Degrees are Offered Under this Major – Associate in Science in Marketing, Bachelor of Science in Marketing, Master of Science in Digital Marketing, and Ph.D. in Marketing
• Time to Graduate – Online associate degrees take from one to two years; bachelor’s take two to four; master’s take one to three (after the bachelor’s), and doctoral degrees take three to five years (with a master’s degree).
• What Makes it Easier – The online programs are very flexible and affordable. Many allow the students to gain real-life experience working in marketing companies in their area.
• Career and Salary Info – Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers can expect a ten percent job growth from 2021-2031. Their 2021 average annual earnings were $127,150. Advertising sales agents earned about $52,340.

11. Accounting

Online accounting degrees are offered at all levels from associate degrees through doctoral degrees. Accountants are required to have at least a bachelor’s degree, but those with an associate degree can pursue entry-level positions as accounting assistants.

• Typical Admission Requirements– Accounting is a more strenuous field and may have more requirements than some online programs. Applicants should possess an undergraduate degree to pursue a graduate degree, and a master’s to pursue a doctorate. An application, official transcripts, and a specific GPA are required. Some schools may require entrance exams.
• What type of Degrees are Offered Under this Major – Associate of Science in Accounting, Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Master of Science in Accounting, and Ph.D. in Accounting.
• Time to Graduate –The time to graduate can be from 18 months to seven or more depending on the degree level the student chooses. Associate degree programs may be completed in 18 months while master’s could take five years.
• What Makes it Easier – The online accounting programs are flexible and allow students to learn at their own pace. However, students may be required to complete an internship at an accounting firm in their area. Some programs allow students to transfer credits. Many of these online programs prepare students to take industry certification exams.
• Career and Salary Info – Accountants earned an average of $77,250 in 2021 and are expected to see a job growth of six percent from 2021-2031. Bookkeeping, auditing, and accounting clerks earned about $45,560 per year. However, they are not expected to see much job growth.

12. General Studies

General studies is a vast field that qualifies graduates for many positions in various industries.

• Typical Admission Requirements- Online application, official transcripts, and entrance exam
• What type of Degrees are Offered Under this Major – The general studies degree is offered at all degree levels. However, associate and bachelor’s degrees are the most chosen.
• Time to Graduate – Online general studies programs can be completed in as little as one year (associate degree) or as long as seven years or more for a doctorate.
• What Makes it Easier – Its flexible format allows students to start the program when they want and set the pace. Some colleges offer very affordable online general studies programs.
• Career and Salary Info – Human resource specialists and daycare workers, two possible positions for general studies graduates, earned an average of wages of $62,090 and $27,490.
• Job Growth – An eight percent and six percent job growth are predicted for these workers between 2021 and 2031.

13. Education

An education degree is offered at all degree levels. Graduates can work as teaching assistants, while bachelor’s degree holders can pursue teaching jobs. Those with a master’s or doctoral degree can perform research, teach at universities, or work in leadership positions in education.

• Typical Admission Requirements- Other than having a degree, there are not many admission requirements other than applications and passing competency exams.
• What type of Degrees are Offered Under this Major – Associate of Science or Associate in Arts in Education Studies, Bachelor of Science in Elementary School Teacher, Master of Science in Education, and Doctorate in Education.
• Time to Graduate – The time to graduate varies by program. Duration can be one year or seven or more. If teaching, the individual will have to complete an internship in a classroom.
• What Makes it Easier – The online format allows students to work at their own pace, or work while earning the degree.
• Career and Salary Info – Jobs in education and library occupations are expected to grow seven percent during the 2021-2031 decade. Elementary school teachers earned about $61,350, librarians earned $61,190 in 2021.

14. Management

Management is needed in every area of business, and management degrees are offered at every degree level.

• Typical Admission Requirements– Online application submitted; all transcripts; any required entrance exams or entrance fees.
• What type of Degrees are Offered Under this Major – Associate of Science in Management, Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts in Child and Family Development, and Ph.D. in Management
• Time to Graduate – Like most programs, the duration to complete varies by the degree level that’s being pursued.
• What Makes it Easier – Management degrees allow students to learn at their own pace. Students also have 24/7 help from instructors.
• Career and Salary Info – Management jobs are expected to see an eight percent job growth by 2031. Administrative managers earned about $99,290; food service managers earned $59,440; and human resources managers earned $126,239.

15. Childcare

Childcare is a field that includes daycare workers, early childhood instructors, and daycare owners. Online childcare programs are available at the associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degree levels.

• Typical Admission Requirements– The admission requirements vary by degree level. Most childcare programs require an application, official transcripts with the required GPA, and possibly an entrance exam.
• What type of Degrees are Offered Under this Major – Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education; Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Development; Master of Science, and Ph.D. in Childcare Development.
• Time to Graduate – Associate degrees 18 months to two years; bachelor’s two to four years; master’s one to three; a doctoral two to four years
• What Makes it Easier – These degree programs are not only shorter in length but are also more affordable. Although online, some of the programs require students to complete an in-classroom internship.
• Career and Salary Info – Childcare workers earned about $27,680 in 202, while childcare center directors earned about $47,310. The expected job growth for childcare workers by 2031 is six percent. Childcare center directors should see an eight percent job growth.

Next Steps

Now that you know some of the easiest online degrees out there, the next step is to get information about specific programs. Simply choose a few that seem interesting, and an admissions representative can walk you through the process of getting started in school.