What can you do with a History degree from The Citadel?

First, some facts. Of the History graduates from The Citadel 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 24%, History graduates from The Citadel have an exceptionally lower likelihood (-43%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 24%
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 The Citadel and our analysis:


Relevance score: 31%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2017 from The Citadel with a Bachelor of Arts - BA in History. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Machine Operator
Whaleback Ski Area
Feb 2018 - Aug 2018
The role of Machine Operator does not require any historical knowledge or skills, making it unrelated to the Bachelor's degree in History.

Floor Manager
YMCA
Oct 2017 - Present
The position of Floor Manager at YMCA does not necessitate specific knowledge of history, as it focuses more on management and operational tasks.

Security Officer
Dartmouth-Hitchcock
Mar 2018 - Present
As a Security Officer at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, some skills related to critical thinking or understanding social dynamics could be useful, but the job does not directly require historical knowledge.

Paraeducator
Hanover Street School
Aug 2018 - Present
The role of Paraeducator at Hanover Street School might utilize some understanding of history in supporting social studies education, but it does not primarily center on historical knowledge.

ABOUT

I am a Citadel Alumni with a B.A in History. I work by the books and try work with organisation in mind. I have an analytical mindset for studying data. I have worked in a wide varieties of jobs, but after spending some time with ferry services, I really took a liking to the Transportation industry. While I prefer to be behind the scenes, I can work up front if the need requires.

What jobs can you get with a History degree from The Citadel?

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


From the analysis of LinkedIn profiles of individuals who graduated with a History degree from The Citadel, it seems that a large number of them have pursued careers in the military, specifically within various roles in the United States Marine Corps. Many of these positions, like Assistant Operations Officer, Platoon Commander, and Operations Planner, emphasize military leadership and operational skills rather than the historical analysis and research abilities typically associated with a History degree. While some roles may touch on historical context, particularly in military strategy or tactics, they do not require the full depth of historical knowledge that one would expect to use from their studies.

In addition to military careers, some graduates have ventured into fields like real estate, logistics, and management. Positions such as Buyer Agent, Program Coordinator, and Store Manager appear to rely more on general skills like communication and organizational abilities rather than on history-specific knowledge. Overall, while graduates may have developed crucial skills during their History degree that are transferable to various fields, it seems that many of the jobs they've taken on aren't closely aligned with their academic background. In essence, a significant portion of these roles is only tangentially connected or outright disconnected from the historical expertise they learned at The Citadel.

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 The Citadel):

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

When you look at the career trajectories of History graduates from The Citadel, it’s clear that many of them have pursued paths that are heavily influenced by military and leadership roles. A significant number of alumni have opted for careers in the United States Marine Corps, starting off as officers and advancing to various high-level positions. For instance, graduates from 2010 to 2018 frequently launch their careers in the military, taking on roles such as Operations Officer, Platoon Commander, or even pilot positions. Even years later, many continue in the military, emphasizing the leadership and strategic planning skills that are honed through their history education and military training.

However, not everyone is tied to the military. Some graduates have ventured into civilian roles, such as real estate and management in various sectors like law enforcement and service industries. Yet, while some have found positions of responsibility, others have taken jobs that might not directly relate to their history degree, such as a machine operator or a security officer. Five to ten years down the line, you'll often see them in roles that could seem unrelated to history, like project management or operational roles in logistics. So, while the military pathway stands out as a strong trajectory for many, it's clear that outcomes vary widely. Some may find fulfilling careers tied to their degree, while others may not land roles that fully utilize their history background, illustrating the diverse paths one can take after graduating from The Citadel.

How hard is a History degree from The Citadel?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in History at The Citadel can be pretty challenging, but it's not impossible. Like any history program, you'll have to deal with a good amount of reading and writing, analyzing important texts, and understanding various historical events and their impacts. The Citadel’s focus on leadership and military discipline means you might find the environment a bit more rigorous compared to a typical college, which can add pressure. However, if you’re genuinely interested in history and stay organized, it could be a rewarding experience. So, while it might be tougher than some degrees, if you have a passion for the subject, you might find it easier to handle than others that are more technical or quantitative.

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 The Citadel tend to make good money?

Looking at the job paths of these Citadel history grads, it seems like they’ve mostly found their footing in fields that can offer solid salaries, especially those in military or consultancy roles. Graduates who dived straight into the Marine Corps have likely tapped into a good salary with benefits after their initial training, while others who took more civilian paths, like in real estate or operations, also seem to be climbing the ladder—though their earnings might vary more. Overall, while not every grad is raking in the big bucks right out of school, many have positioned themselves in jobs that could definitely lead to decent paychecks over time as they gain experience and move up in their careers.

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 The Citadel). 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