What can you do with a History degree from Brigham Young University?

First, some facts. Of the History graduates from Brigham Young University 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 15 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Bad. Overall, with an average relevance score of 45%, History graduates from Brigham Young University have a substantially lower likelihood (-22%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 45%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, 53% 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 History graduate.

See the details:

View a random History graduate from Brigham Young University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 92%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2018 from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor's degree in History. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Summer Research Intern
California State Library
May 2018 - Aug 2018
The Summer Research Intern position at California State Library directly applies historical research skills and knowledge, making it highly relevant to the Bachelor's degree in History.

Reference Assistant
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Aug 2019 - Dec 2020
As a Reference Assistant at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the job involves utilizing historical knowledge and research abilities to assist users, which is directly aligned with the degree.

Research and Instruction Librarian
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
May 2021 - Jun 2023
The Research and Instruction Librarian role at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University requires significant historical research skills and knowledge, making it a perfect fit for someone with a Bachelor's degree in History.

Pre-Professional Advisor
The College of Idaho
Dec 2023 - Present
While being a Pre-Professional Advisor at The College of Idaho may involve skills related to advising and education, it does not directly utilize the specific knowledge obtained from a history degree on a daily basis.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Master's degree
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
2019 - 2021
ABOUT

Student-centered professional successful at working with all types of personalities. Thrives on providing positive service while successfully completing daily job duties. Excellent understanding of both academic and pre-professional advising. Passionate about providing equitable services to students.

What jobs can you get with a History degree from Brigham Young University?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


When looking at the careers of folks who graduated with a History degree from Brigham Young University, it's clear that many have taken a winding path after their studies. A significant number ended up working at Ancestry in various roles related to historical data, research, or content management, which makes sense since the company is all about genealogy and family history. Positions like Content Editor, Data Quality Review Trainer, and Content Project Analyst show these grads drawing on their historical research skills in a meaningful way. Other history-related jobs included positions like Archivist or Research Assistant, which directly involve working with historical documents or materials. These folks are likely using the skills and knowledge absorbed during their degree pretty well in these contexts.

However, it's also interesting to note that many graduates ventured into careers that don’t seem to have a strong connection to history at all. Jobs in marketing, property management, or even customer service roles at companies like Walt Disney World are common in their profiles, and these positions generally don’t require the specialized skills gained from a History degree. Overall, while a good chunk of BYU history grads found careers that directly utilize their knowledge and skills, a significant number pursued paths that are unrelated, suggesting that a History degree can offer flexibility but may not always lead directly to history-focused roles. So, if you’re thinking about a History degree, be ready for both the historical and the downright unexpected career opportunities that may come your way!

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for History graduates (this is across all History graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Brigham Young University):

What kind of career trajectories do History graduates from Brigham Young University have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

When looking at the career trajectories of History graduates from Brigham Young University, it seems like there's a mix of paths that people have taken. For many, their first jobs after graduation appear to range from internships and entry-level positions to roles in various sectors like education, research, and content management. A notable proportion have taken on roles at Ancestry, which suggests that some graduates are indeed utilizing their history skills in relevant fields, like research and historical content editing. However, it’s also clear that some individuals have ventured far from traditional history-related careers—like working in sales or operational roles within companies not specifically tied to history.

Five to ten years down the line, there is a blend of further development in relevant fields and some shifts into entirely different industries. Some have transitioned into management roles or specialized positions within their companies, while others, like some who’ve landed in education or archival work, have remained closely associated with history. On the flip side, several graduates have taken on roles that seem more tangential to their degree, like a legal assistant or a sales position. Overall, while there are certainly positive examples of history graduates advancing in related fields, there’s also a clear indication that many have ended up in jobs that don't directly utilize their history education. This underscores the idea that while a degree in history can pave the way for certain niche careers, it also leaves room for exploring a wide array of opportunities that might not be directly linked to the subject itself.

How hard is a History degree from Brigham Young University?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in History at Brigham Young University (BYU) can be a mixed bag when it comes to difficulty. On one hand, history majors often have a reputation for challenging coursework, with a focus on critical thinking, writing, and analyzing primary sources. You'll be reading a ton and writing essays that require you to think deeply about complex topics. That said, BYU is known for its supportive environment and resources, like study groups and helpful professors, which can make things a bit easier. Overall, it’s not the easiest degree out there, but with some dedication and passion for the subject, it can be really rewarding without being overwhelmingly tough.

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 3 years to finish a Bachelor degree in History.

Do History graduates from Brigham Young University tend to make good money?

Looking at all these BYU History grads, it seems like they've landed a mixed bag of jobs, and honestly, some of them probably aren’t rolling in dough just yet. The one who graduated in 2010 seems to have a pretty solid career trajectory at Ancestry, so they might be doing decently well, but many others are still in entry-level or mid-level positions, particularly those who graduated more recently. Positions like "Research Assistant" or "Customer Service Manager" probably aren’t making bank, and even the counselors and planners have to hustle a bit to climb the salary ladder. Overall, while a few might be pulling in a good paycheck, it looks like many are still working their way up and may not be making all that much just yet.

What buzzwords do History graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in History (this is across all History graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Brigham Young University). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for History?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in History (ordered by the average relevance score of their History graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
University of Connecticut 60 10
The University of Georgia 56 11
College of Charleston 54 10
Yale University 53 21
University of North Texas 52 21
University of Virginia 50 18
University of Pittsburgh 49 12
University of California, Santa Cruz 48 13
Rutgers University 48 10
Towson University 47 10
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 46 15
Binghamton University 46 10
University of Florida 45 23
Brigham Young University 45 15
Christopher Newport University 45 12
The University of Texas at Austin 44 16
University of Houston 44 19
San Francisco State University 44 17
Texas State University 44 11
The George Washington University 44 13
University of Washington 43 17
San Jose State University 43 12
Southern New Hampshire University 42 15
James Madison University 42 18
Louisiana State University 42 12
Texas Tech University 41 15
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 41 12
Hillsdale College 40 10
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona 39 10
University of South Carolina 39 11
Texas A&M University 38 23
Florida State University 37 21
University of California, Los Angeles 37 37
North Carolina State University 37 14
University of Oregon 37 11
Northern Arizona University 36 10
University of Central Florida 35 24
Old Dominion University 34 10
Davidson College 34 11
West Chester University of Pennsylvania 33 10
Columbia College 33 13
University of Michigan 31 15
University of Nebraska at Omaha 31 11
Arizona State University 30 13
George Mason University 29 14
University of Mississippi 29 10
Virginia Commonwealth University 28 10
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 26 16
University of California, Berkeley 25 16
The Citadel 24 11
The Ohio State University 23 18
University of Arizona 23 13
Georgia State University 23 11
Michigan State University 20 11
University of South Florida 18 20
Ashford University 18 11
University of Kentucky 17 12
Virginia Military Institute 14 11