First, some facts. Of the History graduates from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 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 15 LinkedIn profiles (see below).
The verdict? Bad. Overall, with an average relevance score of 46%, History graduates from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have a substantially lower likelihood (-21%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:
And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.
Also, after graduating, 53% 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:
Relevance score: 45%We think this person has gone into a career only somewhat relevant to their degree.DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2012 from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor's degree in History. Also pursued further education since (see below). JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONAssociate ResearcherPivot Bio May 2019 - Oct 2023 Polymer Analytics Technician Mango Materials Mar 2024 - Present FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATINGAssociate's degreeBrunswick Community College 2015 - 2017 Certificate in Aquaculture Brunswick Community College 2015 - 2017 ABOUT[NAME REMOVED] Bobby Clemmons began his career path in plant science and microbiology in 2019 at Pivot Bio, a company that aims to replace synthetic nitrogen fertilizer with nitrogen produced by microbes. He worked as a Research Associate II on the Plant Analytics Team where he developed plant assays which tested microbial candidates on various commercial crops. He then transitioned to the Strain Banking Team where he maintained frozen microbial cell banks. While performing his duties, he received a Catalyst Award for his work with other teams in developing plant assays to support their needs. Prior to being promoted to that role, he worked as an intern at Pivot Bio where he tested non-destructive measuring devices that test phenotypic plant response to nitrogen on the Field Measurement team. Bobbys expertise includes running plant assays, greenhouse operations, shake flask fermentation, quality control, aseptic technique, and inventory management. In 2017, he received an associate degree in Marine Biotechnology and certificate in Aquaculture from Brunswick Community College and received a bachelors degree in History, with a minor in Art History, in 2012 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.For fun, Bobby enjoys playing ukulele and guitar, as well as collecting records and VHSs. |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
From analyzing the career paths of individuals who graduated with a History degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, it's clear that many have ventured into fields that aren't directly related to history. Common jobs include roles in retail, administration, and various customer service positions—like server or team member—that mainly focus on skills like sales and logistics rather than historical understanding. Even for those who worked in libraries or volunteer positions, while there may be some tangential relevance to history, many of the roles seem to rely more on general skills than explicitly utilizing their history education.
However, there are exceptions where graduates landed jobs explicitly connected to history, such as museum curators, archival roles, and teaching positions. These jobs not only demand a solid grasp of historical knowledge but also actively engage with history on a day-to-day basis. So, while a degree in History can lead to diverse job opportunities, it's apparent that many graduates end up in roles where their historical training isn't the main focus. This suggests that, while a History degree can provide valuable skills, graduates may find themselves exploring various career paths that don't directly involve history as their core function.
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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill):
Looking at the career trajectories of History graduates from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, it seems that many of them take on quite diverse roles after graduating. Right after they finish their degrees, a number of them seem to start in entry-level positions, often in customer service, volunteering, or various intern roles. For example, many graduates transitioned into roles like servers or library assistants shortly after graduation, indicating a trend where they may not immediately find jobs directly related to their History degree. Some sought out volunteer opportunities, which, while great for experience, might suggest they were exploring different career paths or gaining skills that they felt would be beneficial in the long run.
Fast forward five or ten years, and there's a mixed bag of outcomes. We see some graduates making their way into relevant fields like archive management, education, and curation, which would leverage their History background. However, others end up in roles that are more business-oriented or unrelated to history, such as tax consulting or admissions counseling. This highlights that while a degree in History can certainly lead to fulfilling careers, the path isn’t particularly straightforward for everyone, and some might find themselves in positions that don't directly utilize their history skills. Overall, it appears that while some do carve out successful careers in relevant fields, others drift into roles that are a bit more disconnected from their academic training, leaving it up to personal ambition and adaptability to shape their professional journeys.
Getting a Bachelor’s degree in History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill can be challenging, but it really depends on what you’re looking for in your college experience. There's a good amount of reading and writing involved, so if you enjoy diving into different time periods and analyzing events, you might find it super engaging. It's not necessarily harder than other majors, but you’ll need to stay on top of your assignments and participate in discussions. Overall, it’s a rigorous program, but if you're passionate about history, it can also be really rewarding!
Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in History.
Looking at the career paths of these UNC History grads, it’s pretty clear that some have found solid financial opportunities while others are still working their way up the ladder. For example, the graduates who went into tax consulting and management roles (like the one who landed a job as a Tax Manager at EY) are likely pulling in good salaries, given the reputation and pay scale of those positions. On the other hand, roles like a library assistant or various volunteer positions don’t typically pay very well, which might lead to lower overall earnings, especially early on. The diversity in their job choices means there’s a mix of solid income potential and some more modest paychecks, so it really depends on the specific field and career direction they took after college!
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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill). This may or may not be useful:
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: