What can you do with a History degree from Columbia College?

First, some facts. Of the History graduates from Columbia College 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 13 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Horrible! Overall, with an average relevance score of 33%, History graduates from Columbia College have an exceptionally lower likelihood (-34%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 33%
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 Columbia College and our analysis:


Relevance score: 77%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2015 from Columbia College with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in History. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Senior Intelligence Analyst
FSA
Sep 2016 - Mar 2017
As a Senior Intelligence Analyst at FSA, the position relies heavily on analytical skills and historical knowledge, aligning directly with the competencies developed through a Bachelors degree in History.

Supervisory Intelligence Analyst
FSA
Mar 2017 - Jan 2021
The role of Supervisory Intelligence Analyst at FSA requires oversight of analytical processes and knowledge of historical context in intelligence, making it directly relevant to the history degree.

Intelligence Analyst Advisor
General Dynamics Information Technology
Jan 2021 - Jun 2021
While the position of Intelligence Analyst Advisor at General Dynamics Information Technology may involve knowledge of historical patterns in intelligence analysis, it does not utilize historical knowledge as a core qualification regularly.

Business Process Analyst Advisor
General Dynamics Information Technology
Jun 2021 - Present
The Business Process Analyst Advisor role at General Dynamics Information Technology could involve analyzing processes that may include historical contexts, but it is not primarily focused on history as a core qualification in everyday tasks.

ABOUT

Experienced Intelligence Analyst with a demonstrated history of working in the government administration industry. Skilled in Leadership, Analytics, Project Management, Interpersonal Communication, and Microsoft Excel. Strong administrative professional with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) focused in History and Business Administration from Columbia College.

What jobs can you get with a History degree from Columbia College?

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


Most of the jobs held by graduates from Columbia College with a History degree tend to lean heavily towards administrative roles, law enforcement positions, and more technical jobs that don't really tap into the skills or knowledge you’d expect from a history program. A significant number of the roles listed, such as Police Officer, Administrative Assistant, and various logistics positions, emphasize operational or administrative tasks. These jobs don't require the in-depth analysis, research skills, or historical context knowledge you'd gain from studying history, making them seem fairly unrelated to their degree. However, there are a few positions that do connect back to their history background, such as the Archives Technician at the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration and the roles that deal with intelligence analysis—those seem to really make use of the skills learned during their studies. Overall, while there are instances where history knowledge plays a part, most alumni seem to pursue careers that either overlook their educational background or apply only a portion of it, often venturing into different fields entirely, like logistics or administration. So, if you're thinking about pursuing a History degree, it might be good to also consider what career paths you're interested in down the line!

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 Columbia College):

What kind of career trajectories do History graduates from Columbia College have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Looking at the career trajectories of graduates from Columbia College with a degree in History, it's evident that their paths have been quite varied. Many of these individuals seem to start out in roles that are somewhat detached from history itself, with early jobs ranging from administrative positions to roles in logistics and even military service. For instance, roles like Property Restoration Technician and Police Officer aren't directly linked to studying history. However, over time, some graduates have gradually shifted into positions that utilize their skills in a more relevant context, like becoming an Archives Technician or moving into roles with the U.S. Census Bureau, which could connect back to history through data collection and analysis.

Five to ten years out, it appears that a fair number of these graduates start finding their niche in more relevant fields. Some have transitioned into positions such as Chief Risk Management Officer or even Political roles, suggesting that a History degree can still be valuable in sectors like public administration, education, or healthcare management. However, it’s also clear that not everyone sticks closely to history-related fields. A significant portion seems to find stable careers in various administrative, logistical, or operational roles that might not leverage their historical knowledge directly but still provide a steady income. Overall, while some graduates go on to find good career trajectories related to history, many others end up in positions that don’t necessarily make full use of their degree, which is a common reality for a liberal arts education.

How hard is a History degree from Columbia College?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in History, whether at Columbia College or anywhere else, tends to be a mix of interesting and challenging. It’s not generally considered the hardest degree out there, but it does require a lot of reading and writing, which can be daunting if you’re not a fan of that sort of thing. You’ll dive into various historical periods, analyze texts, and maybe even do some research projects, which can take time and effort. That said, if you love history and are curious about how it shapes the world today, it could feel more like a fun journey than hard work. Overall, it’s probably a bit easier than degrees in the sciences or engineering, but you still need to stay organized and engaged to keep up with the coursework.

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 Columbia College tend to make good money?

Looking at the job paths of these Columbia College history grads, it seems like they've had a mixed bag when it comes to making decent money. Some have climbed the ranks in government and health sectors, like the Chief Risk Management Officer and the Navy leadership roles, which generally come with better pay and benefits. However, others have bounced around in lower-paying positions like lot attendants or administrative roles, which might not lead to a substantial paycheck. The latest grads are still starting out, so they'll need to build their careers a bit more before we can say they’re making bank. Overall, while a few seem to be doing well, others still appear to be juggling entry-level or less lucrative roles.

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 Columbia College). 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