While subjective, Medicine, Law, Engineering, and Architecture consistently rank as the most stressful university courses due to intense workloads, long hours, complex material, high stakes (patient health, legal outcomes, complex design), and significant mental pressure, with nursing also topping lists for its demanding practical and emotional toll. Stress levels vary by individual, but these fields demand extreme dedication, time management, and resilience.
Degrees like Medicine, Engineering, and Architecture are stressful due to long hours and high responsibility, while Creative Arts and Design can be stressful because of subjective grading and constant performance pressure.
Top 10 Toughest Courses in the World in 2026
Medical is usually regarded as the hardest major because of the vast scope of its curriculum, lengthy time frame, and significant stakes in life-or-death decisions. It requires a rigorous education in the classroom, as well as practical training as well as emotional resilience.
The most difficult majors require extensive study time, more STEM courses, and a solid foundation in math. Chemistry, engineering, and physics are generally considered some of the hardest college majors available to undergraduates.
Architecture. Architecture is known as one of the degrees that leads to the highest mental burnout due to its intense studio culture, long working hours, and demanding design expectations. Students often spend nights completing models, drawings, and critiques, which can lead to stress and exhaustion.
Psychology
A bachelor's in psychology ranks among the easiest majors. You can develop skills that apply to varying careers in counseling or marketing. As you complete your undergraduate psychology degree, you'll take classes such as human development, psychology theories, and research in the psychology field.
Top 10 Unhappiest Colleges in the U.S.
Top 20 Hardest Degrees in the World
Which AP exams have the lowest pass rates? Physics 1, Environmental Science, and English Language had the fewest students scoring a passing grade.
Computer science has the highest dropout rate, at 10.7%, compared to other educational sectors.
The top 10 hardest degrees in the world commonly include: (1) Medicine, (2) Engineering (various branches), (3) Chartered Accountancy, (4) Architecture, (5) Physics, (6) Aerospace Engineering, (7) Chemical Engineering, (8) Law, (9) Pharmacy, and (10) Mathematics.
Which degrees produce the happiest graduates?
There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as rankings fluctuate, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) consistently appear at the very top of lists for lowest acceptance rates (often below 4-5%), requiring exceptional academic performance and unique qualifications from applicants. Caltech is often noted for its intense focus on STEM and tiny class sizes, while Harvard remains the most famous symbol of extreme selectivity.
MEDICINE MOST STRESSFUL MAJOR
Students studying in medicine-related fields led the pack. Right behind them were the law, social work, and engineering majors.
The 50 Most Stressful Colleges
Without further ado, here is Witspot's list of the worst schools in America 2023-2024.
Kansas State University consistently ranks as both one of the happiest and one of the friendliest colleges in the U.S.
Here are some of the highest-paying two-year degree programs to consider.
In short, no. There's no type of bachelor degree that's seen as "better" or harder to earn by all employers and grad schools. Both BA and BS degrees require hard work and skills across multiple areas.
The "42% rule" for burnout suggests dedicating roughly 42% of your day (about 10 hours) to rest and recovery activities like sleep, hobbies, exercise, and socializing to prevent mental and physical exhaustion, countering the "always on" culture that leads to burnout. It's a science-backed guideline emphasizing that sustainable success requires balancing intense work with sufficient downtime for your brain and body to recharge, not just a quick nap.
While depression can arise in any job or career, research has shown that some of the most depressing careers include social workers, disability lawyers, long-term care administrators and nurses, mental health counsellors, and first responders.
1. Introduction. Recent survey evidence suggests that mental health problems are substantially more prevalent among PhD students than in the general population or among other highly educated groups (see, e.g., Levecque et al., 2017; Satinsky et al., 2021; Bolotnyy, Basilico, and Barreira 2022).