What can you do with a History degree from Old Dominion University?

First, some facts. Of the History graduates from Old Dominion 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 10 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

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

Average score: 34%
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, only 20% 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 a Bachelors degree is enough for most History graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random History graduate from Old Dominion 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 2016 from Old Dominion University with a Bachelor's degree in History. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Range Safety Officer
Freedom Shooting Center
May 2017 - Apr 2018
The position of Range Safety Officer does not require any historical knowledge or skills, focusing instead on safety protocols related to firearms.

Marine Electrician
Newport News Shipbuilding, A Division of Huntington Ingalls Industries
Mar 2018 - Aug 2020
The role of Marine Electrician entails electrical installation and maintenance which is unrelated to the historical knowledge base and skills developed through a degree in History.

Engineering Technician 3
Newport News Shipbuilding, A Division of Huntington Ingalls Industries
Aug 2020 - Sep 2021
As an Engineering Technician, the responsibilities involved are primarily technical and engineering-related, not aligning with the core qualifications associated with a History degree.

Logistics Support 3
Newport News Shipbuilding, A Division of Huntington Ingalls Industries
Sep 2021 - Present
The position in Logistics Support does not utilize historical knowledge or skills, as it focuses on supply chain management and logistics rather than any relevant historical understanding.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a History degree from Old Dominion 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 profiles of people who studied History at Old Dominion University, it’s pretty clear that a significant chunk of graduates ended up in teaching positions. Whether as social studies teachers or instructors in various educational settings, many have leveraged their history backgrounds to inform their teaching. These roles make sense since a solid understanding of historical concepts is essential for educating others about the past. However, there are quite a few who have strayed far from the path of history-related jobs, with many choosing careers in retail, technical roles, or even as pilots and electricians—positions where historical knowledge doesn’t really come into play.

Overall, while teaching jobs have shown a clear relevance to their History degrees, many graduates have found themselves in fields that don't require any specific historical knowledge or skills at all. It’s a mixed bag: some have managed to stick closely to their studies and make meaningful use of that knowledge, while others have ventured into careers that seem completely detached from their university education. If you’re considering a degree in History, it’s something to think about—there definitely are options that align with that passion, but you might find yourself in unexpected places too!

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 Old Dominion University):

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

So, if we look at the career paths of folks who graduated with a History degree from Old Dominion University, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. Right after graduating, many of them land teaching jobs, like working at Coastal Christian Academy or public schools, which makes sense since History graduates often have strong communication skills and a knack for sharing knowledge. But then, as they progress, we see some folks moving into really different fields—like electricians or logistics roles at major companies. It's clear that while some keep the educational thread alive, others pivot entirely away from history-related jobs.

Fast forward five to ten years, and the picture is still pretty diverse. You’ve got some who are now doing really well in education or legal roles, like attorneys, which can be quite gratifying and relevant to their studies. However, there are also plenty who’ve drifted into entirely different sectors, like retail management or technical positions in industries like shipbuilding. It shows that while a History degree is versatile, many graduates end up in fields that aren’t directly related to what they studied. Overall, some have found meaningful careers, while others might feel their degree didn’t lead them to a defined career pathway in History.

How hard is a History degree from Old Dominion University?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in History at Old Dominion University, or really at most schools, tends to be pretty manageable if you're into the subject. It usually involves a lot of reading, writing essays, and discussing historical events, which can be a breeze if you enjoy that kind of stuff. You'll likely have a few challenging classes, especially when you dive into specific time periods or complex theories, but overall, it’s not the hardest degree out there. As long as you stay organized and keep up with your assignments, you should be able to handle it. Just remember, the more you engage with the material and connect it to what you love about history, the easier it’ll feel!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 5 years to finish a Bachelor degree in History.

Do History graduates from Old Dominion University tend to make good money?

Looking at the career paths of these Old Dominion University history graduates, it seems there’s a mixed bag in terms of earning potential. Some, like the Instructor Pilot for the Navy and the Associate Attorney, likely pulled in pretty decent salaries right off the bat since those roles usually pay well. However, others who started as teachers or took on various part-time positions, like servers and social media roles, probably didn’t rake in the big bucks early on. The electrician and those in the shipbuilding industry seem to have found some solid middle-ground jobs, but overall, it looks like many of them have had to hustle through a variety of roles that might not have paid that well initially. So, while a few may be doing quite well, others definitely had to work their way up.

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 Old Dominion 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