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First, some facts. Of the American History (United States) graduates we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:
These are estimates based on AI analysis of 92 LinkedIn profiles (see below).
The verdict? Bad. Overall, with an average relevance score of 37%, American History (United States) graduates have a substantially lower likelihood (-30%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:
And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.
Also, after graduating, 42% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a American History (United States) graduate.
See the details:
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Relevance score: 0% We think this person has NOT gone into a career related to their degree.
DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2021 from Ashford University with a Bachelor of Arts - BA in American History (United States). No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONOperator Trainer CommIT Enterprises, Inc. Nov 2021 - Present ABOUTNo information provided. |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
From analyzing various LinkedIn profiles of individuals who graduated with a degree in American History, it's quite evident that there are a few common career paths that many of these graduates choose to pursue. Of the numerous positions listed, most fall into the categories of teaching, retail management, administrative roles, and various functions within the legal field. However, when we examine the relevance of these jobs to their degree in American History, it becomes clear that the connection is often tenuous.
The most prominent job type among these American History graduates is teaching, especially at the high school level. Many found roles as history teachers where they directly applied their knowledge, making this an excellent fit for their educational background. However, outside of education, most graduates have gravitated toward jobs in retail management or customer service roles, such as Store Managers or Sales Associates. While these jobs help develop interpersonal skills and critical thinking, they rarely utilize the specific historical knowledge these individuals gained from their degree programs.
Another group of graduates found their way into the legal field. Jobs like Legal Assistants or Law Clerks can leverage knowledge of legal history, which is somewhat related to American History. However, the primary focus of these roles often shifts toward legal processes rather than in-depth historical analysis. Within this sector, positions directly related to historical preservation—such as archive roles—were present but less common. Those who took on roles like Archivist or experienced historical interpretation as Park Rangers did indeed connect their work with their studies, but they were exceptions rather than the rule.
In contrast, several graduates took on positions in industries unrelated to American History. Roles in management, project coordination, and various corporate positions were prevalent, but most of these jobs failed to engage their historical knowledge. Jobs such as Financial Analysts, Marketing Coordinators, or even Administrative Assistants rarely applied the skills or knowledge a degree in American History would typically provide. For many of these individuals, a degree in history appears to have served primarily as a stepping stone to developing general soft skills rather than as a direct link to specific career paths.
Overall, while there is some overlap between the knowledge gained in an American History degree and certain job roles, particularly in teaching and archival positions, a significant portion of the available career paths do not utilize this specialized knowledge. Many American History graduates end up in jobs ranging from retail management to various corporate roles, which demonstrate a mismatch between their education and their professional endeavors. This finding highlights a broader reality for many liberal arts graduates: their degrees, while providing critical thinking and analytical skills, do not always lead directly to careers tied to their field of study.
Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for American History (United States) graduates:
When we look at the career trajectories of graduates with a degree in American History from various colleges, it's clear that there are some common paths taken, but many graduates end up in jobs that don’t directly relate to their major. Right after graduating, a lot of these individuals seem to land jobs in retail or entry-level positions that don’t really tap into their historical training. For example, we see early career choices like "Retail Store Manager" or "Financial Service Specialist," which could be good for gaining general work experience but aren’t directly tied to American History. This pattern continues for a number of years, with many graduates moving into roles involving sales, management, or education, rather than fields that are closely aligned with their historical studies.
Fast forward five to ten years later, and the trend continues for many. While some graduates do find positions that utilize their understanding of history—like working as archivists, teachers, or in public history roles—others diverge into areas that might seem unrelated, such as sales, customer service, or even technical roles like software development. A handful of graduates have transitioned into law or higher education, demonstrating some intellectual continuity, but for many, the relevance to their American History degree becomes increasingly tenuous. So, while you can definitely find successful individuals in history-related careers, it seems that a significant number may also find themselves in a variety of unexpected roles, leaving behind the academic focus they once had. Overall, it's a mixed bag: some folks succeed in history-related careers, but plenty end up in jobs far removed from their degree.
A Bachelor’s degree in American History can be a pretty manageable option if you're genuinely interested in the subject, but it definitely has its challenges. You'll spend a lot of time reading dense texts, writing research papers, and analyzing various historical events and their impacts—some of which can get pretty complex. If you enjoy storytelling and diving deep into different perspectives, you might find it more engaging than difficult. On the other hand, if history isn’t your jam, the extensive readings and critical thinking required could feel a bit overwhelming. Overall, I’d say it’s about average in terms of difficulty—definitely lots of work, but it can be really rewarding if you're passionate about the topic!
Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in American History (United States).
Based on the job history of these graduates, it seems like financial stability varies significantly among them. Some, like the graduate from the University of California, Berkeley, and the one from Princeton University, are working in roles that likely provide competitive salaries, mainly due to their association with reputable institutions and the positions they hold, which suggest a higher earning potential. On the other hand, several educators or those in retail positions may not be raking in as much money; careers in teaching and retail often don't offer the same financial rewards as corporate or specialized fields like law or tech.
Additionally, graduates who moved into roles such as attorneys or accountants are generally likely to see more substantial paychecks compared to those sticking with positions like teaching or entry-level roles in retail or administration. While there’s definitely the potential for decent earnings in various fields, the reality is that many of these graduates may face challenges in achieving high salary levels, especially early in their careers. It's important to consider not just where they started but also the career paths they are on – steady growth and professional development can lead to better financial prospects down the line.
Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in American History (United States). This may or may not be useful:
Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in American History (United States) (ordered by the average relevance score of their American History (United States) graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates: