2027 Best Majors for Students With Low GPA
Audited and Verified:
Our Editorial and Data Verification Process
Research.com uses government datasets, official education statistics and primary institutional information to support its career and degree guides. Our review process checks factual accuracy, occupational definitions, source dates and the requirements associated with the credentials discussed.
How This Article Was Fact-Checked
Our editorial team verifies salary estimates, employment projections, education requirements and program information against original data providers and official organizations. Salary figures are checked against the relevant occupational definitions and reporting periods. Information about licensure, accreditation and required in-person training is reviewed separately.
Fact-checked and verified on:
Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist
A low GPA can narrow your choices, but it does not rule out college - or every major at a college that admits you. The important distinction is between admission to a school and admission to a selective program.
For context, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a 2024 median annual wage of $93,600 for registered nurses; that is an occupational figure, not an expected salary for nursing graduates. This guide compares fields by admissions barriers, coursework, cost, and career requirements so you can choose a realistic route into - or around - a competitive major.
Key Things You Should Know
- Start with the right education level. A bachelor's degree commonly requires about 120 semester credits; a master's program requires a prior bachelor's degree, regardless of how accessible its admissions process is.
- Check admission twice. A college may admit students with a low GPA while its nursing, engineering, education, or graduate program sets separate prerequisites and GPA standards.
- Choose a pathway, not just a label. Community college, transfer, prerequisite courses, or conditional graduate admission may provide a route forward, but credit acceptance and program eligibility must be confirmed in writing.
Top 10 Best Majors for Students With Low GPA
Business Programs
Business administration is a broad undergraduate major to consider if you want room to explore accounting, marketing, operations, or management. It is not automatically an easy major: quantitative courses and competitive concentrations can present hurdles.
If your college GPA is low and you already hold a bachelor's degree, an MBA or specialized business master's may consider work experience, an explanation of earlier grades, or recent coursework. Confirm the individual graduate program's minimum GPA and any GMAT or prerequisite rules; general university admission policies may not apply.
Healthcare Programs
Healthcare administration and public health offer alternatives for students interested in health systems rather than direct clinical practice. Their master's counterparts - the MHA and MPH - generally require a bachelor's degree; some concentrations also expect statistics or relevant experience.
These fields may be a better fit than a selective clinical program if your strengths are communication, policy, or operations. Neither degree by itself qualifies you to practice nursing, medicine, or another licensed clinical profession. Compare internship requirements and the specific jobs a program prepares students to pursue.
Information Technology Programs
Information technology majors emphasize systems, networks, databases, and applied problem-solving. Some master's programs in IT or cybersecurity offer foundation courses for applicants without a computing bachelor's degree, but that does not mean they waive GPA review.
If your record is uneven, ask whether recent technical coursework, certifications, or professional experience can strengthen an application. For career entry, a lower-cost certificate or help-desk role may also be worth comparing with a full degree. Check hands-on lab access and whether online courses require scheduled attendance.
Computer Science Programs
Computer science differs from IT in its heavier emphasis on programming, algorithms, discrete mathematics, and theory. A master's in computer science can be appealing to a career changer with a bachelor's degree, but bridge or prerequisite courses may add time and cost.
A low GPA is less likely to be the only obstacle if required math and programming preparation is missing. Choose this route when you want substantial software or computing theory training; consider applied IT or a focused certificate if your goal calls for narrower skills.
Nursing Programs
Nursing is not a reliably easy-entry major: schools may admit you while separately selecting students for the clinical nursing program based on prerequisite grades, capacity, and other criteria. Graduate nursing programs, including the MSN, usually require a prior nursing credential and may require an active RN license or experience.
If your GPA is below a program's threshold, ask which prerequisite courses you can repeat and how repeat grades are calculated. Verify state licensure eligibility and clinical-placement requirements before committing, especially to an online program.
Psychology Programs
An undergraduate psychology major can introduce research methods, statistics, and human behavior without the clinical admission requirements of some health majors. A master's in psychology may have different goals: research preparation, applied work, or a step toward further study.
Do not assume a general psychology degree qualifies you as a licensed psychologist or counselor. If graduate admission is your goal, build evidence of readiness through strong recent grades and research or relevant experience, then check the specific degree and state licensing pathway.
Education Programs
Education majors and master's programs can prepare students for teaching, curriculum work, or professional advancement, but entry to a teacher-preparation track may involve separate GPA, placement, and background-check requirements.
Some education master's degrees are intended for licensed teachers; others provide an initial-licensure route. If your earlier GPA is low, compare those routes rather than assuming any M. Ed. leads to a teaching license. Confirm state approval, student-teaching arrangements, and exam requirements in the state where you intend to work.
Criminal Justice Programs
Criminal justice may suit students interested in courts, corrections, public policy, or community safety. A master's can support specialized study or advancement, but many entry-level justice jobs do not require one, and agencies set their own hiring standards.
For applicants with a low college GPA, ask whether a graduate program weighs professional experience or recent coursework alongside grades. Compare the program's internship and analytical coursework with your target role; a degree does not override an employer's background, fitness, or training requirements.
Engineering Programs
Engineering is a poor choice solely because a school has accessible admission. Sequential calculus, physics, and laboratory courses can make progression demanding, while engineering majors and graduate programs may set separate entry standards. An engineering master's normally expects substantial technical preparation; a bridge may be possible but can lengthen study.
If engineering is your goal, rebuilding your math record at a community college can be more useful than choosing an unrelated major for easier entry. Check program accreditation where it matters for your intended engineering pathway.
Social Work Programs
An undergraduate social work major can lead toward entry-level human-services work, while an MSW is the common graduate route for students pursuing advanced social work practice. Standard MSW admission requires a bachelor's degree; advanced standing, where offered, generally depends on an eligible social work bachelor's degree and additional program criteria.
A low GPA may limit either route, so ask about recent-coursework review and prerequisite policies. Field placements require substantial scheduled time, even in online programs. Clinical practice also requires state-specific supervised experience and licensure beyond the degree.
What majors are easiest to enter with a low GPA?
There is no universally easiest major to enter with a low GPA. At a college that admits you, broadly available majors such as business administration, psychology, or criminal justice may have fewer separate entry gates than nursing or some engineering tracks. That says nothing about how easy their coursework will be or whether the school will admit your particular application.
If you already have a bachelor's degree, the question changes from undergraduate major entry to graduate admission. A guide to easiest master's degrees can help you explore fields, but only the current admissions policy for a particular master's program can establish whether your GPA qualifies. Ask whether the policy applies to your overall GPA, your final undergraduate courses, or prerequisite grades.
Yes, you can attend college with a low GPA. Your options depend on whether the GPA is from high school or previous college study. A community college may offer an accessible starting point for undergraduate work; transfer admission to a university and admission to your intended major are separate decisions. Returning students should also ask about academic-standing, readmission, and grade-replacement policies rather than assuming they can start with a clean transcript.
Before applying, identify your GPA as the school calculates it, then request the requirements for both general admission and the major. If you fall short, ask whether prerequisite classes, a transfer pathway, or conditional admission is available. Do not treat an unpublished minimum GPA as proof that grades will not be considered.
The best career opportunity is the one whose entry requirements you can realistically meet. IT can offer routes through applied skills and experience; business supports a range of functions; healthcare administration connects to health systems without clinical licensure.
Nursing and engineering may lead to clearly defined occupations but demand more specialized preparation and, in nursing, licensure. Psychology and social work require particular care: a bachelor's degree may support related entry-level work, but independent clinical practice generally requires further education and credentials.
Compare actual job postings in your area before choosing. Note the required credential, experience, software or technical skills, license, and work schedule. A high occupational median wage should not outweigh an admissions barrier, an unaffordable program, or additional training you do not plan to complete.
For a low high school GPA, a community-college-to-bachelor's pathway may let you build a stronger recent record while completing transferable courses. For a low college GPA, targeted prerequisite or post-baccalaureate coursework may be more persuasive than starting an unrelated degree. Applicants who already hold a bachelor's should investigate a master's program's conditional-admission or foundation-course policy, if one exists.
Start dates are a separate consideration: online colleges that start immediately may reduce the wait to enroll, but an early start does not waive admission standards or speed up required courses. Before paying a deposit, obtain a written degree audit showing which prior credits satisfy general education, major, and elective requirements. Accepted credits that count only as electives may save less time than you expect.
Online study is not inherently easier to enter or complete. Admissions standards may be the same across formats, and online courses can still have fixed deadlines or live meetings. Online business, psychology, or IT study may suit someone who needs to work while enrolling; nursing clinicals, social work field placements, education student teaching, and some engineering labs still demand location-specific time.
Compare online degrees by their actual schedules, support, and required in-person components - not by the delivery label alone. Ask who arranges placements, whether part-time enrollment is allowed, and whether the school can serve students in your state. Choose campus or hybrid study instead if you need regular face-to-face help or reliable access to labs.
Time and cost vary with the credential, accepted credits, course load, and experiential requirements. An associate degree commonly takes about two years of full-time study; a bachelor's commonly takes about four years from the beginning; a master's often takes one to three years after a bachelor's. These are planning ranges, not completion promises. Part-time study, prerequisite gaps, and limited course or placement availability can extend them.
Compare what are the cheapest online colleges only after estimating the cost to finish your specific major. Published tuition alone excludes mandatory fees, materials, technology, transportation, and possible clinical or placement expenses. Request a program-specific cost estimate and a transfer evaluation, then compare likely aid offers. Check federal aid eligibility for the school and program; a certificate or nondegree prerequisite sequence may have different aid treatment than a degree.
Coursework is a better test of fit than a major's reputation for being "easy." Business often includes accounting and statistics; IT includes systems and networking; computer science and engineering involve more sustained math and technical sequences. Psychology commonly includes research methods, while nursing adds science prerequisites and clinical work. Education and social work typically include supervised field experiences.
If past grades reflect a particular weak subject, inspect the required course sequence before enrolling. Ask which classes are prerequisites for progression, what minimum grade each requires, and whether a failed or repeated course delays entry to the major. For a master's program, also distinguish foundation courses from degree credits and check for a thesis, capstone, internship, or practicum.
These majors can connect to different roles, but no major guarantees a job or a salary. The comparison below separates plausible directions from credentials that often require additional preparation.
| Field | Possible career direction | Requirement to check |
| Business | Operations, sales, or marketing roles | Employers' experience and skill expectations |
| IT or computer science | Technical support, systems, or software roles | Demonstrable technical skills and role-specific preparation |
| Nursing | Registered nursing | Approved education, examination, and state licensure |
| Psychology or social work | Human services or, with further preparation, clinical practice | Graduate education and state licensure for clinical roles |
| Education | Teaching | State-approved preparation and certification |
Use occupational wage and outlook data for the specific job you want, not as a prediction of what a major's graduates earn. Compare that evidence with your likely total education cost and the time needed to become eligible for the role.
How can you verify an accredited program and required certifications?
Check accreditation and professional eligibility before you rely on a school's admissions offer. Institutional accreditation matters for factors such as federal aid eligibility and credit review. Programmatic accreditation or state approval can also matter for regulated professions; the relevant requirement depends on the occupation and state.
Use this sequence to verify a program that interests you:
- Confirm the institution's current accreditation status with its recognized accreditor and check its federal student-aid eligibility.
- For a licensed occupation, ask the state licensing board which degree, program approval, exams, and supervised experience it requires.
- Ask the program to identify any applicable programmatic accreditation and confirm that its curriculum and placements meet the rules of the state where you intend to work.
- Get the program's admissions, prerequisite, transfer-credit, and total-cost answers in writing before enrolling.
A common mistake is assuming that an accredited university makes every one of its programs eligible for a particular license. Another is assuming that credits a university accepts will satisfy the intended major. Verify both points separately.
Other Things You Should Know About
No. Selective majors may require separate applications, prerequisite grades, or available clinical or lab placements. Check the department's rules before accepting an offer.
Not necessarily. Schools use different repeat and transfer-grade policies, and graduate programs may review all previous transcripts. Ask how each program calculates eligibility.
Not immediately. A master's program requires a bachelor's degree. Your college record and the graduate program's specific requirements will matter more at that stage.
Choose an accessible major only if its coursework and career routes fit your goals. Check the courses, total cost, and any license or further degree you would need.
- Undergraduate Retention and Graduation Rates - COE https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/ctr/undergrad-retention-graduation
- Graduate degree: Career Outlook | bls.gov https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/subject/graduate_degree.htm
- College Scorecard: Home | ed.gov https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/
- Majors by criteria to enter | University Exploration https://exploration.osu.edu/exploring/exploring-your-academic-options/majors-by-criteria-to-enter/
- Community college students don't always benefit from transferring to a 4-year college | Brookings https://www.brookings.edu/articles/community-college-students-dont-always-benefit-from-transferring-to-a-4-year-college/
- Ranking The Best College Degrees for Employment in 2026 | National University https://www.nu.edu/blog/best-college-degrees-for-employment/
- GPA requirement - UC Admissions - University of California https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/admission-requirements/first-year-requirements/gpa-requirement.html
- How to Get Accepted Into College With a Low GPA | usnews.com https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/how-to-get-accepted-into-college-with-a-low-gpa
- College Search - BigFuture | College Board https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search
