What can you do with a History degree from University of California, Los Angeles?

First, some facts. Of the History graduates from University of California, Los Angeles 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 37 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Bad. Overall, with an average relevance score of 37%, History graduates from University of California, Los Angeles have a substantially lower likelihood (-30%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 37%
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, 62% 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 University of California, Los Angeles and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2013 from University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in History. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Legal Intern/Volunteer
California Department of Veterans Affairs
Sep 2013 - Sep 2013
Working as a Legal Intern at the California Department of Veterans Affairs directly involves legal research and understanding of laws associated with veterans, which is relevant to advanced studies in history, especially legal history.

Legal Intern
Office of the California Attorney General
May 2015 - Aug 2015
A Legal Intern position at the Office of the California Attorney General requires knowledge of legal processes and statutes, linking well to the critical analysis skills obtained from a BA in History.

Research Assistant
University of San Diego School of Law
May 2015 - Sep 2015
As a Research Assistant at the University of San Diego School of Law, the job involves academic research that relies on historical legal documents and precedents, making it highly relevant to a history degree.

Judicial Extern for the Honorable Barbara Major
United States District Court
Aug 2015 - Dec 2015
Serving as a Judicial Extern involves analyzing court cases which requires a strong historical context of law, directly utilizing the analytical skills from a History education.

Law Clerk
United States Attorney's Office
Jan 2016 - Apr 2016
The Law Clerk position at the United States Attorney's Office involves substantive legal work that often entails historical analysis of laws and precedents, making it directly relevant.

Summer Law Clerk
Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo
Jun 2016 - Aug 2016
A Summer Law Clerk at Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo utilizes legal knowledge and historical context in cases, thereby being highly relevant to a background in History.

Legal Volunteer
California Department of Veterans Affairs
Oct 2017 - Dec 2017
As a Legal Volunteer at the California Department of Veterans Affairs, the role involves legal work that requires understanding of historical legal frameworks affecting veterans, making it relevant.

Post-Bar Law Clerk
Office of the California Attorney General
Oct 2017 - Dec 2017
The Post-Bar Law Clerk role at the Office of the California Attorney General utilizes legal research skills and historical legal contexts extensively, framing it as very relevant to a History degree.

Attorney Advisor General
U.S. Small Business Administration
Dec 2017 - Oct 2018
The Attorney Advisor General position at the U.S. Small Business Administration likely requires knowledge of historical business laws and practices, making it relevant to the historical analysis acquired through the degree.

Associate Attorney
Spinelli, Donald & Nott
Oct 2018 - May 2019
As an Associate Attorney at Spinelli, Donald & Nott, the job necessitates strong legal research skills and an understanding of historical legal frameworks, connecting it directly with a History degree background.

Associate Attorney
Bradford & Barthel
Jun 2019 - Nov 2019
Similar to job #9, the Associate Attorney role at Bradford & Barthel requires a grasp of historical law applications which directly aligns with the knowledge from a History degree.

Attorney
California Department of Veterans Affairs
Nov 2019 - Present
As an Attorney at the California Department of Veterans Affairs, this position directly applies historical legal knowledge in practice, making it highly relevant to the individual's History background.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Doctor of Law (J.D.)
University of San Diego School of Law
2014 - 2017
ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a History degree from University of California, Los Angeles?

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


From analyzing the job paths of graduates with a degree in History from UCLA, it’s clear that many have found themselves in roles that don’t directly relate to their major. Common positions like administrative assistants, executive assistants, and various managerial roles tend to focus mainly on organizational, communication, and operational skills rather than historical analysis or research. While some graduates have taken on teaching roles or research positions that actively engage with historical content, a significant portion of their peers have ventured into fields like marketing, project management, or customer service—areas with little to no direct relevance to history.

However, it’s not all bleak for history majors! There are definitely some graduates who managed to leverage their skills effectively in contexts that value historical knowledge. For instance, roles in education, legal internships, and research assistant positions show a keen connection to historical analysis and methodologies. Jobs like being a community service representative or a researcher at various organizations also allow them to utilize their understanding of social issues and historical context. Overall, while many history graduates have found work in fields that don't directly apply their degree, there are still notable exceptions where their education shines through, especially in roles related to education, law, and historical research.

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 University of California, Los Angeles):

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

When you look at the career trajectories of UCLA History graduates, it's quite a mixed bag. Right after graduation, a significant number seem to find themselves in admin roles or internships, like executive assistants, research assistants, or even roles in libraries. These entry-level positions might not scream “history career,” but they can often provide a valuable launchpad for skills and networking. As the years go by, many start to shift into more specialized areas or management positions. Some enter education, whether as teachers or coordinators in school districts, while others find their niches in nonprofit sectors or even legal fields, which is interesting because they lean into the research and analytical skills that a history degree can develop.

However, it's worth noting that not every trajectory appears to lead to a career directly related to history. Some graduates seem to veer off into roles like marketing or various tech positions, which might not use the specific knowledge of historical context but still leverage communication and analytical skills. After about five years, many are in established, sometimes managerial roles, which show growth. By the ten-year mark, we see further advancement into more senior positions across various fields, from law to development roles in nonprofits, which suggests that while direct history careers might not be the norm for every graduate, the skills gained during their studies remain incredibly transferable and valuable."

How hard is a History degree from University of California, Los Angeles?

Getting a Bachelor's degree in History at UCLA can be a pretty challenging experience, but it really depends on your interests and strengths. If you enjoy reading, writing, and analyzing different perspectives on the past, you'll find it engaging. The workload can be heavy with lots of reading assignments, essays, and class discussions that require critical thinking. However, compared to some STEM fields, a History degree might feel a bit more manageable for some students since it’s less about intensive problem-solving and more about storytelling and analysis. Just be prepared to dive deep into various time periods and cultures—you'll definitely have to put in the effort, but if you're passionate about the subject, it can be really rewarding!

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 University of California, Los Angeles tend to make good money?

Okay, so looking at these UCLA history grads and their job paths, it seems like some are doing alright, but others might be struggling a bit with the financial side of things. For example, those who got into higher positions, like marketing directors or legal roles, likely pulled in decent salaries, especially in fields like law or corporate development. But then there are folks in more niche or entry-level roles, like library assistants and substitute teachers, who probably aren’t making a ton, especially in a high-cost area like California. Overall, it looks like there's a mix—some have obviously climbed the ladder and are probably earning well, while others might still be finding their footing financially.

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 University of California, Los Angeles). 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