What can you do with a History degree from University of Virginia?

First, some facts. Of the History graduates from University of Virginia 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 18 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 50%, History graduates from University of Virginia have a much lower likelihood (-17%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 50%
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, 44% 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 Virginia and our analysis:


Relevance score: 69%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2016 from University of Virginia with a Bachelor's degree in History. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Account Executive
Joele Frank
Sep 2016 - Jun 2018
The role of Account Executive at Joele Frank does not require any specific knowledge or skills in history, focusing instead on sales and client management.

Senior Account Executive
Joele Frank
Jun 2018 - Feb 2019
As a Senior Account Executive, this position continues to focus on sales and client relations, which are unrelated to historical knowledge or skills.

Program Coordinator, Community Affairs | Morgan Stanley Foundation
Morgan Stanley
Mar 2019 - Nov 2019
The role of Program Coordinator in Community Affairs at Morgan Stanley Foundation can utilize historical knowledge in understanding community contexts and social issues, making it relevant.

Analyst, Community Affairs | Morgan Stanley Foundation
Morgan Stanley
Nov 2019 - Jan 2021
The position of Analyst in Community Affairs also draws on historical contexts to evaluate community needs and efforts, directly relating to the skills learned in a history degree.

Associate, Community Affairs | Morgan Stanley Foundation
Morgan Stanley
Jan 2021 - Jan 2023
As an Associate in Community Affairs, the job likely involves historical analysis and understanding of societal issues, making it highly relevant to the individuals background in history.

Manager, Community Affairs | Morgan Stanley Foundation
Morgan Stanley
Jan 2023 - Present
The Manager of Community Affairs position would require substantial use of historical knowledge to shape community initiatives and understand the historical context of community challenges, thus directly relevant.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a History degree from University of Virginia?

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 paths of people with a History degree from the University of Virginia, there's quite a mix of roles. Many graduates took positions in education, like teaching high school history or social studies, which makes perfect sense. These teaching roles leverage their historical knowledge directly, enriching students' understanding of the past. However, a significant number of graduates ended up in jobs that don’t seem directly related to history at all, such as proposal coordinators, legal assistants, or even professional athletes. It’s clear that a History degree equips graduates with critical thinking and analytical skills, but not all of them found a way to apply that directly in their careers.

Interestingly, there are several roles where historical knowledge plays a part, even if it’s not in traditional history-related jobs. For instance, some graduates became freelance writers or reporters, where they might draw on historical context for their pieces, while others ventured into community-oriented roles, reflecting on social justice issues. So, while many jobs didn't explicitly require history expertise, the skills developed during their studies helped in broader ways, proving that a History degree can be quite versatile. Overall, though, if you're considering a degree in history, be ready for a range of career paths that may or may not directly relate to the subject matter of your studies!

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 Virginia):

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

When looking at the career trajectories of University of Virginia graduates with a degree in History, it's clear that they often start their professional journeys in education or media-related roles. For many of them, the first job after graduation is often something like teaching, reporting, or even roles that involve writing and communication. For instance, graduates have taken on positions as substitute teachers or freelance writers shortly after earning their degree. These first roles seem to reflect the skills they've honed during their studies, particularly in critical thinking, research, and communication.

Fast forward five to ten years, and the story is a bit mixed. Some graduates have transitioned into quite stable careers in education, legal fields, or even business management. For example, there are those who have moved up the ranks to become successful attorneys, proposal coordinators, and business development managers. However, there are also quite a few who might seem a bit disconnected from their History degree—a good number of graduates end up in jobs that don’t directly relate to their degree, like account executives, sales leads, and even general labor positions. So, while some find fruitful paths related to history or teaching, others might drift into careers that feel somewhat off-track for a History major. In essence, it's a bit of a mixed bag where some thrive while others seemingly venture outside the expected career paths.

How hard is a History degree from University of Virginia?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in History at the University of Virginia can be a bit of a mixed bag in terms of difficulty. On one hand, UVA has a solid reputation, so you can expect some challenging courses that will make you really think critically about events, cultures, and theories. You'll be expected to do a lot of reading, writing, and analysis, which can be time-consuming and sometimes overwhelming if you’re not super into it. However, if you're passionate about history and enjoy digging into different time periods and perspectives, it can feel a lot more manageable and even fun. Overall, it's about average in terms of difficulty compared to other degrees—you’ll definitely have to put in the effort, but it’s not insurmountable if you stay organized and engaged!

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 University of Virginia tend to make good money?

So, looking at these UVA history grads, it seems like they're mostly on a mixed financial track. The ones who went into teaching or coaching might not be raking in the big bucks, especially since teacher salaries can be pretty modest. Those working in freelance writing or creative industries, like screenwriting and filmmaking, might hit it big occasionally, but it can be super unpredictable, you know? Then you have the grads who moved into business development or legal fields; they likely have a better chance at making decent coin, especially as they advance in their careers. Overall, it's a bit of a mixed bag, but many seem to be doing just okay in their careers without necessarily becoming wealthy right off the bat.

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 Virginia). 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