What can you do with a History degree from Michigan State University?

First, some facts. Of the History graduates from Michigan State 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 11 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Horrible! Overall, with an average relevance score of 20%, History graduates from Michigan State University have an exceptionally lower likelihood (-47%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 20%
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, 36% 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 Michigan State University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 0%

We think this person has NOT gone into a career related to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2015 from Michigan State University with a Bachelors Degree in History. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Store Manager
Tuesday Morning
Jan 2016 - Jul 2016
The role of Store Manager at Tuesday Morning does not require any historical knowledge or skills and focuses on retail management, making it unrelated to the Bachelor's degree in History.

Payroll Specialist
PrimePay
Jul 2016 - Oct 2019
The position of Payroll Specialist at PrimePay does not utilize historical knowledge and is centered on payroll processing and management, which is unrelated to the field of history.

Junior Accountant/Billing & Expense Coordinator
OneStream Software
Oct 2019 - Dec 2020
As a Junior Accountant/Billing & Expense Coordinator at OneStream Software, the role primarily involves accounting and financial duties that do not require or utilize any historical knowledge.

Payroll Specialist II
PrimePay
Jun 2021 - Dec 2023
The position of Payroll Specialist II at PrimePay again focuses on payroll management, which does not involve any relevant skills or knowledge from the study of history.

Payroll Specialist
University Compounding Pharmacy
Mar 2024 - Present
The role of Payroll Specialist at University Compounding Pharmacy also centers around payroll processing and does not include the application of historical knowledge or skills.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Master of Science - MS
Walsh College
2021 - 2023
ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a History degree from Michigan State University?

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


When looking at the job trajectories of individuals who graduated with a History degree from Michigan State University, you'll notice a pretty varied range of positions. A lot of folks end up in roles like teaching, whether it's substitute teaching or working as long-term substitutes. That makes sense since history is a core subject in schools, so those degrees can come in handy in the classroom. Some have even found themselves in roles that touch on community engagement or event coordination, where having a grasp on historical context can be beneficial, but it’s not the focus of their work. However, it’s important to stress that a significant number of jobs these graduates have taken don’t directly relate to history at all. Positions in sales, customer service, and operational roles like being a Payroll Specialist or an Account Representative dominate the list. These jobs are often more about skills like communication and organization rather than any historical analysis. So, while some graduates are applying their history knowledge in a classroom or legal context, many are veering off into careers where a degree in history isn’t really a requirement or even necessary. It’s a mixed bag, with real-world experience showing that a History degree can lead to various paths—many of which might not be exactly what you’d think!

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 Michigan State University):

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

Looking at the career trajectories of people who graduated with a History degree from Michigan State University, it's a mixed bag. For many, the first jobs out of college seem to dip into a variety of roles that don’t necessarily align closely with their major. A few started off in internships related to community collaboration and education, while others found themselves in sales or service positions. Despite the degree, it looks like many graduates end up in the service industry or sales-oriented roles initially, which isn't uncommon for humanities grads trying to find their footing.

As time goes on—say five or ten years after graduation—there's a noticeable shift. Some of these graduates seem to land roles that are more aligned with their interests or utilize skills honed during their studies. For instance, a few have moved into education as substitute teachers, academic coordinators, or graduate assistants, while others found careers in marketing and real estate. However, it's clear that a significant number are still working in non-history-related jobs, particularly in sales or the service sector. It's important to recognize that while a History degree can open doors to various fields, many graduates may not end up in roles directly related to their studies, at least in the early years post-graduation. So, if you’re thinking about what you might do with a History degree, be ready for a journey that could take you through some unexpected but valuable experiences along the way!

How hard is a History degree from Michigan State University?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in History at Michigan State University—or really anywhere, for that matter—can be a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to difficulty. It’s not just about memorizing dates and events; there’s a lot of reading, writing, and critical thinking involved. If you love digging into different cultures and analyzing various perspectives, it can be pretty enjoyable, but if you’re not so into reading long texts and writing papers, it might feel tougher than average. Overall, it’s definitely more rigorous than something like a general studies degree, but if you have a passion for the subject, you might find it easier to handle than you thought!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in History.

Do History graduates from Michigan State University tend to make good money?

Looking at the job history of these Michigan State University graduates, it seems like they’ve had a pretty mixed bag when it comes to making good money. Some, like the Buyer Specialist in real estate, probably pull in decent earnings with commissions and all that, but others have bounced around through temp or part-time roles like substitute teaching and food service, which typically don’t pay much. There are also a few who seem to have settled into more stable and potentially better-paying positions, like payroll specialists and account representatives, especially considering they have been in those roles for a while. Overall, it’s safe to say that while some of these grads likely have a solid income now, others are still working their way up and probably didn’t start off making the big bucks right away.

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 Michigan State 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