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

First, some facts. Of the History graduates from San Francisco 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 17 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Bad. Overall, with an average relevance score of 44%, History graduates from San Francisco State University have a substantially lower likelihood (-23%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 44%
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, 47% 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 San Francisco State University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 50%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2014 from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor's degree in History. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
After School Specialist
Abilities United
Jan 2018 - Jun 2019
The role of an After School Specialist does not require specific historical knowledge or skills, thus making it unrelated to the Bachelor's degree in History.

After School Specialist
Abilities United
Jan 2018 - Jun 2019
This job of After School Specialist also does not involve the application of historical knowledge or related skills, so it remains unrelated to the degree in History.

Athlete Leader
Special Olympics Northern California
May 2018 - Present
As an Athlete Leader at Special Olympics Northern California, this role may utilize some general knowledge of social issues and inclusion that could be tangentially related to historical context, but it's not directly relevant to a degree in History.

Research Assistant
Stanford University
Aug 2021 - Present
The position of Research Assistant at Stanford University likely involves historical research methods or the study of historical texts, which directly utilizes skills and knowledge from the Bachelor's degree in History.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Master of Arts
San Francisco State University
2014 - 2016
ABOUT

I have strong public speaking skills and interpersonal skills; I have done several presentations from panel presentations on my experiences receiving special education services to a workshop on self-advocacy for students with visual impairments at a major conference for educators of students with visual impairments. I also am good at working with individuals with disabilities and tutoring students in mathematics.I was selected as a recipient of the Graduate Student Distinguished Achievement Award in the spring semester of 2016 while finishing up my culminating experience project and I received two California State University-wide Dale M. Schoettler Scholarships for students who are blind or visually impaired.

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

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


From analyzing the job profiles of individuals who graduated with a History degree from San Francisco State University, it's clear that many have ventured into roles that are not directly tied to their field of study. A significant number of these graduates have taken positions in customer service, sales, management, and various administrative roles. For instance, jobs like Store Associate at In-N-Out Burger, Supply Specialist in the US Army, or even General Manager at a restaurant don't really draw on historical skills or knowledge. Instead, they focus on customer relations, logistics, and sales strategies, which, while valuable, stray far from the typical applications of a history degree.

However, there are some grads who have indeed found roles that align more closely with their academic background. Positions like a Research Assistant, Legal Assistant, or Educator significantly leverage historical knowledge and analytical skills. For example, those who've taken on teaching roles, especially in social studies or history, utilize their degree on a day-to-day basis. Similarly, internships linked to museums or historical research, like the Collections and Exhibitions Intern, directly connect with the skills learned throughout their studies. Overall, while many history graduates drift into unrelated fields, there are still a good number who manage to find fulfilling positions directly tied to their history education.

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 San Francisco State University):

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

Looking at the career trajectories of San Francisco State University history graduates, there's quite a mix of outcomes, especially when looking at their first jobs after graduation. Many seem to start off in roles that are a bit disconnected from history, like sales positions or various service roles (like working at In-N-Out Burger). This suggests that not all history graduates step directly into jobs related to their field of study right off the bat. It can be tough out there, and a lot of these folks have had to take on roles that might not utilize their degree initially, likely focusing instead on gaining any sort of work experience to build their resumes.

However, as we look five to ten years down the line, there are some interesting shifts. Some graduates move into more relevant fields, like education, public relations, or even historical research roles, with a few even landing academic positions. Others gravitate towards management and leadership positions in a variety of sectors, which suggests that the skills gained through a history degree—like critical thinking, research, and strong communication—are still valuable. It's clear that while the early job market can be a bit rocky for these graduates, with time and experience, many carve out successful careers that, in some way, align with their historical training or at least allow them to develop transferable skills that lead to their success. So, it’s a mixed bag, but there’s definitely potential for growth and development over time!

How hard is a History degree from San Francisco State University?

Getting a Bachelor's degree in History at San Francisco State University is pretty manageable, but like any degree, it comes with its own set of challenges. You’ll have to read a lot, write papers, and engage in discussions about different time periods and events, so if you enjoy diving into past stories and analyzing them, you’ll likely find it pretty interesting. The workload can be demanding, especially if you’re not used to academic writing or extensive reading, but it’s not considered excessively difficult compared to some STEM fields. Overall, if you’re motivated and passionate about history, you might find it more enjoyable than hard!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 2 years to finish a Bachelor degree in History.

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

Looking at these grads from San Francisco State University, it seems like they have had a pretty mixed bag when it comes to making decent money. Some, like those working in management or upper-level positions like the Vice President at Truex Mtier or the CEO at Keller Williams, are probably doing quite well financially. However, others are in roles that likely don’t pay as high, like a store associate at In-N-Out Burger or support positions in nonprofits and education, which tend to start lower on the pay scale. Overall, it seems like some of these folks are on a solid career path with good earning potential, while others might not be making as much money, especially right out of college or in more entry-level positions.

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 San Francisco 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