14 Hardest College Majors With the Highest Attrition Rates

From aerospace to petroleum, engineering majors are like academic marathons.

Students juggle subjects like thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and process design while clocking long hours in labs. Mechanical, electrical, chemical, and geological engineering require a deep understanding of math, physics, and critical thinking.

These STEM majors demand hands-on experience, abstract thinking, and mastery of engineering principles. The coursework covers a broad range of topics, often combining theoretical physics with practical problem solving.

Such engineering programs demand intense study—surveys show engineering majors average about 20 hours per week on coursework outside class—and they experience high dropout rates (around 50 percent of engineering students switch majors or leave before graduation).

Physics majors navigate the world of quantum mechanics and theoretical physics. These students must be fluent in multivariable calculus, differential equations, and high-level math. They often tackle complex problems that have few real-world analogies.

Physics is a hard science that expects students to develop strong data analysis skills and understand concepts light-years beyond intro-level courses. It’s mentally exhausting and leaves little room for error. The path often continues into graduate school and advanced degrees.

Architecture students work at the intersection of design, science, and problem solving. Their schedules include long studio hours, model building, and software rendering.

Architecture is actually the most time-intensive undergraduate major: Students spend about 22.2 hours per week preparing for classes on average.

The subject matter combines high-stakes creativity with technical precision. Architecture students manage heavy course loads that leave little room for sleep. The workload rivals even the most difficult STEM fields.

Despite the stereotype, fine arts majors face a brutal academic grind. Their work in sculpture, painting, or performance demands emotional energy, technical skill, and relentless critique.

Fine arts majors must constantly submit their work to critique—a process described as "nerve-wracking, tedious, time consuming, [and] competitive" by art educators—making this field emotionally demanding in addition to its technical challenges.

Fine arts majors maintain intense portfolios, develop visual communication skills, and produce original work under tight deadlines. Like other non-STEM degrees, this path requires dedication, resilience, and deep introspection.

Chemistry majors tackle some of the hardest college coursework, including organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, and biochemical sciences. These students must juggle lab reports, molecular biology, and complex reactions.

The field combines theory with real-world applications and requires a broad field of knowledge. Chemistry is foundational for students planning on medical school or advanced degrees. Requiring mastery of both memorization and analytical thinking, it’s a challenging discipline.

Nursing students straddle the academic and clinical worlds. They balance textbooks on pharmacology with hands-on clinical practice in hospitals. This makes the major mentally exhausting and physically demanding.

These students must demonstrate critical thinking and mastery in real-world scenarios. The long hours and high expectations make nursing, as one program director put it, "one of the most difficult majors in any college or university setting," requiring exceptional discipline and grit.

This major is a steep climb from the start. Students study programming languages, algorithms, data structures, and software systems. Each topic builds on the last, and missing a concept early on can make later material feel impossible.

Computer science demands logical thinking, abstract reasoning, and high-level problem solving. It's a challenging major with wide applications, from app development to artificial intelligence.

The path can require extended research and sometimes graduate school. However, while some computer science graduates pursue advanced research or graduate degrees, many find success in the tech industry with just a bachelor’s degree

Pure mathematics focuses less on solving problems and more on proving why solutions exist. Advanced courses dive into number theory, set theory, and abstract algebra, often leaving students bewildered.

This field is dominated by high-level math, including differential equations and complex problem solving. It’s essential for students heading into research or academic careers, making it one of the most intellectually demanding majors.

Biology majors might start with living organisms, but the journey quickly escalates into molecular biology, genetics, and anatomy. The workload often surprises students who expect a lighter science.

These majors spend long hours memorizing terminology, writing lab reports, and studying for exams. Many biology students aim for medical school, increasing the pressure to maintain high GPAs and study hours.

Liberal arts majors like philosophy, literature, and sociology require deep understanding of abstract concepts. Students write constantly and are expected to engage critically with complex texts.

Though non-STEM, these degrees still involve a challenging curriculum. Students learn to synthesize broad themes and express nuanced arguments—skills that demand time and intellectual stamina.

This subfield of biology blends oceanography, chemistry, and ecology. Marine biology students often participate in fieldwork, lab experiments, and detailed species analysis.

The major involves long study hours, especially in upper-level courses on environmental science and molecular biology. It’s an interdisciplinary path requiring both book smarts and outdoor resilience.

Economics isn’t all about money. It combines math, theory, and statistical modeling. Students study everything from supply curves to behavioral economics.

This major requires data analysis and the ability to think critically about human behavior. While not a natural science, economics relies heavily on advanced math and statistics, meaning it is a highly rigorous major requiring strong skills in calculus and data analysis.

Biochemical sciences sit at the crossroads of biology and chemistry. Students must understand everything from protein folding to enzyme kinetics.

The subject matter is complex and often foundational for students preparing for careers in research or health sciences. The coursework is rigorous and time consuming, requiring a love for deep learning and detail.

A branch of engineering focused on sustainability, this major asks students to solve real-world problems using a mix of chemistry, geology, and systems thinking.

Like other engineering paths, it demands high-level math, hands-on experience, and process design skills. It’s a broad field with applications in public health, water treatment, and urban development.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.