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

First, some facts. Of the History graduates from San Jose 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 12 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Bad. Overall, with an average relevance score of 43%, History graduates from San Jose State University have a substantially lower likelihood (-24%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 43%
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 25% 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 San Jose 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 2014 from San Jose State University with a Bachelor's degree in History. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
English Second Language Teacher
G. Academy
Apr 2015 - Feb 2018
The position of English Second Language Teacher does not require any historical skills or knowledge, making it unrelated to the Bachelor's degree in History.

ABOUT

No information provided.

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

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


When you look at the job history of folks who graduated with a History degree from San Jose State University, a pretty interesting trend pops up. Many of them have ended up in teaching roles, especially as middle and high school teachers. This makes a lot of sense since a History degree equips graduates with a deep understanding of historical events, critical thinking skills, and the ability to communicate complex ideas—perfect for the classroom. Apart from teaching, there’s a mix of people who have gone into roles like customer service, facility management, and even production planning, but these jobs mostly don’t require any specific historical knowledge.

Overall, it seems like the majority of these graduates found their way into educational fields, where their background in History was super relevant. Some had jobs that used a smattering of skills gained from their degree, like analytical or communication skills, but most of their roles in industries like manufacturing or customer service didn't really tap into their knowledge of history. So, while a History degree can open doors, it's clear that for many, it’s the teaching path that truly makes the most of what they've learned.

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 Jose State University):

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

Looking at the career trajectories of graduates with a History degree from San Jose State University, it seems like there’s a mixed bag of outcomes after graduating. For many, their first jobs don't seem to directly tie back to History at all. A lot of graduates started out in roles like Customer Service Representatives, Tutors, and English Second Language Teachers, which aren’t exactly history-centric but might utilize their communication skills. Teaching tends to be a common pathway, especially in middle and high schools, where skills in research and presenting information can definitely come into play.

As time goes on, some graduates seem to find their footing in more stable and permanent roles, particularly in education. After a few years, many of them settle into teaching positions or administrative roles, which can be quite fulfilling and relevant to their studies. However, others veer off into fields that clearly don't relate to their degree, such as roles in customer service or various positions in logistics and operations. Fast forward 5 to 10 years after graduation, many are still involved in education in some shape or form, but others are in jobs that might seem more disconnected from their History studies. Overall, while there are definitely some shining examples of fulfilling careers directly tied to History, there’s also a noticeable trend toward roles that don't necessarily leverage their degree directly.

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

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in History at San Jose State University, like many other universities, can range from manageable to pretty challenging, depending on how much you enjoy the material and how well you handle reading and writing assignments. You'll probably find yourself diving into a lot of texts, analyzing documents, and writing papers, which some students find super interesting while others might sweat a bit over. Overall, if you have a passion for history and are willing to put in the effort, it can be a pretty rewarding experience, but it’s definitely not a walk in the park either! It's kind of on par with most liberal arts degrees – not necessarily the easiest, but if you stay engaged and organized, you can totally handle it.

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 Jose State University tend to make good money?

Looking at the job paths of these San Jose State grads, it seems like they’ve had a mixed bag when it comes to making decent money. For instance, the Continuous Improvement Manager and Supply Chain Planner positions likely offered some solid pay, especially considering those roles typically come with decent salaries in industries like manufacturing and logistics. Meanwhile, a lot of the teachers started off in roles with lower pay, which is pretty typical in education, though they may have moved up as they gained experience. There’s also a few who have jumped around in less stable roles like customer service, which usually don’t pay super well. Overall, it looks like those in managerial or more specialized positions probably hit a higher salary than those sticking with teaching or entry-level roles, but it really varies across the board.

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 Jose 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