Easiest Degree to Get a Job: Smart Choices for Quick Careers

Picking a degree just because you "like it" is brave, but if you really want a job right after school, some majors work way better than others. When it comes to online courses, the game changes even more. You want something in demand, easy to finish if you’re working or busy, and—most importantly—that actually gets you hired.

The boring truth? Technical, business, and healthcare degrees almost always top the lists of "easiest to get a job". Employers don’t really care where you studied—especially since the pandemic. They're looking for solid, job-ready skills, and many of the best-paying jobs no longer require a fancy campus degree.

The best part: you can get loads of these degrees fully online, on your schedule, and still show up in interviews looking just as credible as an in-person grad. So if "earn more soon" sounds better than "study forever," you're thinking right.

• What Makes a Degree 'Easy' for Job Hunting?
• Top Online Degrees with Fast Hiring Rates
• Companies Hiring Right Out of School
• Tips for Picking the Best Online Course
• Shortcuts and Pitfalls: What to Watch Out For

What Makes a Degree 'Easy' for Job Hunting?

Let’s get real: the “easiest” degree for landing a job isn’t about coasting through classes without trying. It’s all about picking something practical, in-demand, and fast to finish. An easy degree, in the job-hunting sense, moves you quickly from graduation to your first paycheck—with way less stress about job searches dragging on and on.

So, what pushes a degree to the front of the line? Look for these three things:

• High Demand: Tons of open jobs when you graduate, not just wishful thinking. Check out tech, health, business, and skilled trades.
• Specific Skills: Employers want proof you can do the work. Think hands-on courses, industry certifications, or project-based learning.
• Shorter Time to Finish: The sooner you finish, the sooner you earn. Many online programs offer fast tracks for busy folks.

Here’s a quick look at degrees that almost guarantee interviews right after graduation (based on job posting numbers and hiring rates—these don’t lie).

What ties these all together? They’re relevant in every city, easy to study online, and they teach you stuff companies are scrambling to hire for—right now. If you’re hoping for quick results, picking a easiest degree from this list is probably the fastest route to a full-time gig. Skip the old myths about “hard” and “soft” majors—employers care way more about job skills than fancy titles.

Top Online Degrees with Fast Hiring Rates

If you’re after a job quick, not every degree is built the same. Some online choices basically hand you a backstage pass to good interviews—sometimes before you even finish classes. Here’s a look at the options that get snapped up fastest once you hit the job market.

• Computer Science – From software development to IT support, the tech world never slows down. It’s not rare for students to get job offers halfway through their course. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer jobs are projected to grow by 23% through 2032.
• Business Administration – Every company needs people who understand numbers, management, and efficiency. This degree slots you right into entry-level jobs in HR, sales, marketing, and operations, even if you’re still new to an industry.
• Healthcare Administration – Hospitals, clinics, and insurance companies are desperate for people who know their way around both medicine and paperwork. Jobs in this area keep popping up, and you don’t need to be a nurse or doctor to get in.
• Accounting – If you can balance budgets and know your way around accounting software, you’re golden. Entry-level roles like junior accountant or payroll specialist are always up for grabs—especially at tax time.
• Education and Training – Online teaching isn’t just a pandemic thing—remote jobs for educators and trainers are everywhere, from K-12 tutoring to adult skills programs.

"Employers now care less about where you studied and more about what you can actually do. An online degree listing specific skills often gets more attention than a fancy alma mater." – Forbes, February 2024

Worried about wasting time on a degree that won’t actually get you a paycheck? Take a look at this table—it breaks down employment rates for grads with different online degrees, pulled from the latest 2024 National Center for Education Statistics survey:

So if you’re browsing online programs and really want that quick leap from graduation to your first paycheck, focus your energy on these high-demand areas. They aren’t just popular—they flat-out deliver when it’s time to job hunt.

Companies Hiring Right Out of School

If you're after a quick job after studying, you want to know who’s actually saying yes to fresh grads. Good news: a huge chunk of companies don’t care if you’ve done your degree online or on campus—what matters more is if you can get work done fast. Right now, tech, healthcare, business, and customer service companies are the big players when it comes to hiring right after you get your degree.

Easiest degree programs—like IT, business administration, and healthcare support—tend to have the best hiring rates because the need hardly ever drops. For tech, giants like IBM, Google, and Amazon have built entire pipelines for online course grads. In fact, Google’s Career Certificates program reported that 75% of its grads landed a new job, raise, or promotion within six months of completion. Amazon even offers special internships and entry-level roles just for students from online programs.

Healthcare is similar. Hospitals and clinics, like those in the HCA Healthcare network and CVS Health, hire online grads for roles in medical coding, billing, and even nursing support. Fast-growing health tech start-ups also scoop up online-educated talent for distributed teams where the old "must be on campus" rules don’t apply.

Here’s how it’s looking right now for some key fields, based on 2024-2025 hiring stats:

For remote work, tech companies basically run the show, with a ton of positions open to people who finished online college or even just a solid bootcamp.

• Want a job right out of school? Look for "entry-level" or "new grad" spots on LinkedIn and Glassdoor—the best companies post jobs for online degree holders all the time.
• Don’t ignore business operations: Even insurance, supply chain, and HR firms hire for remote-first roles where an online degree works just fine.
• Healthcare support jobs (think admin or tech, not MD roles) fill up fast. Online grads usually only need a quick certification add-on.

The biggest thing: show you know your stuff. It doesn’t matter if you learned it online or on campus. Companies right now want people who can prove they’re ready to work, and online degrees absolutely count.

Tips for Picking the Best Online Course

Finding the right online course isn’t just about what looks cool or what has the fanciest website. It’s about making sure you get the training you need for the job you want. Here’s how you make that happen without wasting time—or cash.

First, always check if the degree is accredited. If the course isn’t recognized by legit agencies (think CHEA or the U.S. Department of Education), you might end up with a piece of paper nobody cares about. Accreditation matters to employers and can be a deal breaker when looking at your easiest degree options.

Next, look for programs that have high job placement rates. Some schools actually post their numbers online—which is a great sign. If a school claims 80% or higher job placement within six months of graduation, that’s usually worth a closer look. Here’s a quick snapshot:

You’ve also got to make sure the course matches what employers want. Don’t just grab a degree in "general studies" because it sounds easy—check what’s hot in job ads. For example, right now, skills like data analysis, digital marketing, or project management are showing up everywhere. Search LinkedIn or Indeed for the actual requirements, not just degree names.

Here are some questions you should ask before enrolling:

• Is the course flexible with deadlines and pacing? (Perfect if you’re working too.)
• Are there real projects or internships included?
• Can you talk to recent grads before you decide?
• Are there solid reviews from real students?

And don’t sleep on cost. Two similar programs can have wildly different price tags—sometimes, for the same credential. Public colleges and state online schools are almost always way cheaper than private or for-profit ones. Some even offer tuition freezes or pay-as-you-go.

If you spot a course pushing “job guarantees” or “earn six-figures after six months,” read the fine print—nobody hands out jobs just because you signed up. Ask the tough questions and go where the numbers back up the promises. That’s how you turn your online degree into a real job, not just a password to a Zoom room.

Shortcuts and Pitfalls: What to Watch Out For

If you're going after the easiest degree to get a job, it's super tempting to look for shortcuts. The internet is full of courses that claim you can get a diploma in months or less, sometimes even days. But here’s the tough truth: quick isn’t always better, and some of these “easy” paths lead nowhere.

First off, not all online schools are created equal. Accreditation is a huge deal. If your school isn’t recognized by major organizations, employers might just skip your resume. For example, U.S. Department of Education and CHEA (Council for Higher Education Accreditation) keep a list of legit providers. Always check!

Here are some classic shortcuts that often backfire:

• Picking a super short program that skips hands-on experience or internships. A lot of employers want proof you’ve really done the work.
• Relying only on automated, self-paced videos. Some jobs expect live classes or projects you can show off.
• Going for degrees that sound fancy but aren’t actually in demand—think “General Studies” or “Liberal Arts” from tiny online schools. Unless you want to teach, these don’t lead directly to most jobs.
• Falling for fake “guaranteed job” promises. No school can promise you’ll walk into a job unless they’re hiring you themselves!

Just so you know what online hiring looks like, check this out:

See that dip for "General Studies"? That’s what happens when a degree isn’t tied to a certain job. Always check job boards—like Indeed or LinkedIn—before you even sign up for a course. Type in your target degree and see if real companies are actively hiring for it.

If you want to avoid the big mistakes, keep these in mind:

• Pick a well-known, accredited online school
• Check if your program has some kind of internship, project, or hands-on component
• Ask people already working in the field which programs they recommend
• Don’t just trust marketing claims—read reviews, look for success stories, and ask tough questions before you pay

The right shortcuts can save you time and money; the wrong ones waste both. Double-check everything before you jump in, and you’ll thank yourself later.