First, some facts. Of the History graduates from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona 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 10 LinkedIn profiles (see below).
The verdict? Bad. Overall, with an average relevance score of 39%, History graduates from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona have a substantially lower likelihood (-28%) 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, 50% 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:
Relevance score: 100%We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2015 from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona with a Bachelor of Arts - BA in History. Also pursued further education since (see below). JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONElementary School TeacherSt. Cecilia School Oct 2015 - Jun 2018 Elementary School Teacher St. Paul Dual Language Academy Jul 2018 - Jun 2021 First Grade Teacher High Point Academy Jul 2021 - Jul 2022 Third Grade Teacher High Point Academy Aug 2022 - Present FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATINGMaster of Science - MSMount Saint Mary's University 2018 - 2020 ABOUTExperienced Elementary School Teacher with a demonstrated history of working in education. Skilled in Classroom Management, Lesson Planning, Educational Technology, Differentiated Instruction, and Building/Implementing Curriculum. Strong education professional with a Master of Science in Education.MS EducationBA History |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
So, when you look at the job history of people with a History degree from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, it’s pretty varied! A lot of graduates have ended up in teaching roles, especially as history or social science teachers, which naturally aligns well with their degree. These positions—like being a Civil Government and US History Teacher or a Social Science Teacher—actively use historical knowledge in their daily work, showing that they’re clearly connected to what they studied. On the other hand, many others have taken jobs in areas like customer service, mortgage sales, and even marketing, where historical knowledge isn’t really a factor at all.
Overall, it seems like there’s a split between those who’ve leveraged their History degree in educational settings and those who have transitioned into roles where history plays a minimal role—or none at all. While teaching jobs highlight the relevance of their education, many of the other positions seem to stem from a different set of skills entirely, focusing more on operations or sales. This trend suggests that while a History degree can open some doors in education, many graduates find themselves in fields that don’t directly relate to their studies. It's a mixed bag, but it’s clear that the degree provides a solid foundation for teaching history, while its application in other sectors tends to be more of a stretch.
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 California State Polytechnic University-Pomona):
Looking through the career trajectories of graduates from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona who majored in History, there's a notable trend toward education and related fields. Many of the individuals who graduated in the early 2010s, especially those from 2011 to 2015, initially entered the teaching profession. If you check their first jobs, a significant number became teachers or student teachers right after graduation. For instance, some took up roles as elementary or middle school teachers, while others worked as educational specialists. This suggests that a lot of these graduates found their footing in classrooms, which is a solid path for a History degree since it allows them to share their passion for the subject with younger generations.
As time went on, it seems that many of these graduates continued building careers within the education sector or related fields. A lot of them stayed in teaching roles or transitioned into positions that involved educational support or instructional design. However, not everyone stuck to a strictly educational career. Some found their way into sectors like sales, operations, or even business immigration consulting. This indicates that while a History degree can lead to fulfilling careers in education, it also opens up opportunities in other industries, especially for those who diversified their skills along the way. So, whether they're shaping future minds in the classroom or navigating the business world, it's clear that History graduates have carved out diverse and meaningful career paths. However, there's also a fair number who ended up in roles that don’t directly relate to their degree, particularly in sales or operations, which may make you wonder about the sustainability of those paths.
Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in History at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, like most history programs, can be a mixed bag in terms of difficulty. It's not considered the hardest degree out there, but it definitely has its challenging moments. You'll find a lot of reading and writing, which can pile up depending on the courses you choose. If you're passionate about history and enjoy digging into the past, that makes it a lot easier to handle. But if you're not into analyzing texts or writing essays, it might feel like a slog. Overall, it strikes a balance—it's more demanding than some majors, but if you stay organized and stay curious about the subject, you can definitely manage it!
Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in History.
So, looking at the job history of these History grads from Cal Poly Pomona, it seems like they’re mostly following a path in education or related fields, which can be pretty hit or miss when it comes to salaries. The teachers have stable careers, but pay can be on the lower side, especially early on—like those who started as student teachers or substitute teachers. A couple of them have ventured into mortgage and e-commerce, which generally pay better, especially with experience, but it looks like they hopped around a lot between positions. Overall, while they’re making decent money now—especially those in more specialized roles—it appears a lot of them have gone through some financial ups and downs along the way. So, it’s a mixed bag, but a lot will depend on how they leverage their skills in the long run!
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 California State Polytechnic University-Pomona). This may or may not be useful:
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: