What are the hardest STEM majors in college? (2024)

Hey guys, I've been looking into STEM majors and I'm curious about which ones are considered the most difficult. I want to challenge myself, so could you share your experiences or thoughts on the toughest STEM majors?

4 months ago

Hey there! While the difficulty of a major can vary depending on the student and program, there are a few STEM majors that are generally considered to be more challenging than others. Here's a list of some of the toughest STEM majors based on course content, workload, and rigor:

1. Engineering (especially Chemical, Electrical, and Aerospace): Engineering programs often involve complex math, physics, and design concepts that require strong problem-solving skills. Expect heavy workloads, with extensive problem sets, lab work, and projects. Many students say they find electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, and chemical engineering to be especially challenging.

2. Physics: Physics involves extremely deep and abstract concepts, along with advanced mathematics. This major is known for its time-consuming problem sets, demanding labs, and requirement for students to develop strong analytical and critical thinking skills.

3. Biochemistry: Biochemistry is the intersection of biology and chemistry and explores complex molecular processes in living organisms. This major often requires students to learn difficult chemistry concepts, master advanced lab techniques, and stay up-to-date with cutting-edge research developments.

4. Computer Science: While computer science may seem more accessible due to widespread interest and demand, the major can still be quite challenging. Aside from learning a variety of programming languages, students need to understand advanced algorithms, data structures, and computational theory.

5. Mathematics: Pure and applied mathematics majors delve into complex and abstract concepts, often involving advanced courses in calculus, differential equations, linear algebra, and more. This major is tough due to the highly theoretical nature of the content, rigorous proofs, and high level of abstraction.

Ultimately, the difficulty of a major depends on your personal interests, aptitude, and learning style. Don't shy away from a major just because it is considered difficult. Instead, choose a field that genuinely interests you and aligns with your future goals. Passion and dedication can make a challenging major more manageable and enjoyable!

4 months ago

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What are the hardest STEM majors in college? (2024)

FAQs

What is the hardest major in STEM? ›

Many students say they find electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, and chemical engineering to be especially challenging. 2. Physics: Physics involves extremely deep and abstract concepts, along with advanced mathematics.

What is the #1 hardest major? ›

List of the Hardest College Majors
  1. Legal Studies. Average GPA: 3.35. ...
  2. Computer Science. Average GPA: 3.0. ...
  3. Environmental Earth Science. Average GPA: 2.96. ...
  4. Chemistry. Average GPA: 2.77. ...
  5. Environmental Economics and Policy. Average GPA: 2.95. ...
  6. American Studies. Average GPA: 3.12. ...
  7. Nuclear Engineering. Average GPA: 3.14. ...
  8. Energy Engineering.

What is the hardest biology major? ›

Cell and Molecular Biology

Molecular and cell biology is another broad major, focusing on basic molecular principles and cellular systems. Course requirements include calculus, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and biology labs. The laboratory and cellular focus is what makes this major so challenging.

Which science major is the hardest? ›

Top 5 hardest majors in science
  1. Chemical Engineering.
  2. Aerospace Engineering. ...
  3. Biology. ...
  4. Chemistry. ...
  5. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Biochemistry and molecular biology students take courses in biological sciences, biochemistry, chemistry, microbiology, computational biology, mathematics, and ecology. ...
May 7, 2024

What is the easiest STEM major? ›

The 6 Easiest STEM Degrees
  1. Agricultural Economics. ...
  2. Agriculture Production and Management. ...
  3. Animal Sciences. ...
  4. Environmental Engineering. ...
  5. Health and Safety Engineering.

What is the highest paying STEM major? ›

Best STEM Majors
  • Petroleum Engineering. Median Salary: $137,330. ...
  • Computer Engineering. Median Salary: $119,560. ...
  • Mathematics & Statisticians. Median Salary: $93,290. ...
  • Aerospace Engineering. Median Salary: $118,610. ...
  • Nuclear Engineering. Median Salary: $116,140. ...
  • Software Development. ...
  • Chemical Engineering. ...
  • Actuarial Science.

What is the most regretted major? ›

The most-regretted college major is journalism, according to the study. Eighty-seven percent of those graduates sampled said they would choose a different major if they could. Below is the list of the top 10 most-regretted majors based on the 1,500 job seekers ZipRecruiter surveyed.

Which major has the highest dropout rate? ›

5 Majors With the Highest Dropout Rate
  1. Computer science — 10.7%
  2. Advertising — 7.7%
  3. Agriculture — 7.4%
  4. Art — 7.3%
  5. Architecture – 7.2% Presenting the highest dropout rate by major doesn't necessarily paint the full college dropout rate picture.
Jan 18, 2023

What is the No 1 toughest degree in the world? ›

10 Hardest Degrees in the World [2024]
  1. Medicine: According to studies, the medical field is considered one of the toughest degrees to pursue. ...
  2. Aerospace Engineering: ...
  3. Quantum Physics: ...
  4. Astrophysics: ...
  5. Electrical Engineering: ...
  6. Law: ...
  7. Architecture: ...
  8. Chemical Engineering:

Is chemistry or physics harder? ›

Some people find Physics easier because it involves mainly mathematical concepts and logic, while others prefer Chemistry due to its mix of concepts, memorization, and hands-on lab work.

What is the hardest 4 year degree? ›

#1: Architecture. Topping this list of the hardest college majors are architect majors, who spend a whopping 22.2 hours a week on average preparing for classes—that's more than two hours more each week than what chemical engineering students spend!

Which branch of science is more difficult? ›

1) Chemical Engineering

Chemical engineering is listed as one of the hardest science majors because you can expect to dive directly into difficult, major-specific courses.

Which stem major is the hardest? ›

Some of the most challenging STEM majors are:
  • Computer Science.
  • Physics.
  • Materials Science and Engineering.
  • Aerospace Engineering.
  • Nuclear Engineering.
Jun 30, 2023

What is the hardest major to pass? ›

What are the most difficult university degrees in the world?
  • Chartered Accountancy.
  • Astrophysics.
  • Quantum Mechanics.
  • Law.
  • Aerospace/ Aeronautical Studies, Engineering.
  • Biomedical Studies, Neurosciences, Biochemistry.
  • Nursing.
  • Dentistry, Medicine.
Nov 17, 2023

What is the least difficult major? ›

Easiest Majors in College
  1. Business Administration. Business administration is considered one of the easier majors to choose as a college student. ...
  2. Psychology. Learning about the human mind is very interesting. ...
  3. English. ...
  4. Education. ...
  5. Communications.
Apr 5, 2024

What is the most difficult subject in STEM? ›

What's the Hardest Subject in STEM?
  • The candid answer to this pressing question is that engineering takes the lead as the most challenging subject in STEM. ...
  • Interest Matters: If you're genuinely interested in how things work, problem-solving, and creating new technologies, you'll find the content more engaging.

Are STEM majors actually harder? ›

Are STEM Majors Hard? STEM majors are considered some of the most challenging and demanding majors, as they require a strong foundation in math and science as well as a masterful display of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Some of the most challenging STEM majors are: Computer Science.

Which is the hardest degree in the world? ›

10 Hardest Degrees in the World [2024]
  1. Medicine: According to studies, the medical field is considered one of the toughest degrees to pursue. ...
  2. Aerospace Engineering: ...
  3. Quantum Physics: ...
  4. Astrophysics: ...
  5. Electrical Engineering: ...
  6. Law: ...
  7. Architecture: ...
  8. Chemical Engineering:

What is the most versatile STEM major? ›

Management Science

They study the use of quantitative and qualitative techniques to investigate a variety of logistical and strategic issues. It is one of the STEM degrees with the greatest versatility for employment across a range of industries.

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