What can you do with a History degree from West Chester University of Pennsylvania?

First, some facts. Of the History graduates from West Chester University of Pennsylvania 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 10 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Horrible! Overall, with an average relevance score of 33%, History graduates from West Chester University of Pennsylvania have an exceptionally lower likelihood (-34%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 33%
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 30% 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 West Chester University of Pennsylvania and our analysis:


Relevance score: 72%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2019 from West Chester University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts - BA in History. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Social Studies Teacher
Ridley High School
Jul 2021 - Present
As a Social Studies Teacher, this position directly utilizes knowledge of history and social sciences, aligning closely with the Bachelor's degree in History and requiring its core qualifications on a daily basis.

Soccer Coach
Ridley High School
Sep 2020 - Present
The role of a Soccer Coach may benefit from some degree knowledge of team dynamics and history of the game, but it does not require a background in history as a core qualification, making its relevance indirect and limited.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a History degree from West Chester University of Pennsylvania?

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 folks who graduated with a History degree from West Chester University, it quickly becomes clear that many have landed roles that don't really tap into their historical knowledge. A large chunk of graduates have taken positions in areas like account management, administrative roles, and retail, where knowledge of history is far from essential. For example, jobs like Account Manager at various companies or Administrative Coordinator roles mainly focus on business and organizational skills rather than historical insight. Even in education, like substitute teaching, many of these positions do not strongly emphasize history unless they are specifically teaching subjects tied to it, such as Social Studies or Criminal Justice.

However, there are definitely some bright spots! Those who found jobs in teaching, especially in Social Studies, can really make use of their degree, since they get to incorporate historical themes into their lessons. Positions like the Social Studies Teacher or even the Teaching roles at specific educational institutions seem to align well with what they studied. Internships or specific roles, like the Special Collections Internship at a library, also show a direct link to their history background. So while many graduates drift into jobs that don’t utilize their history education, there are still paths where they can shine and see history in action!

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 West Chester University of Pennsylvania):

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

When looking at the career trajectories of graduates from the History program at West Chester University, it's clear that many start their professional lives in roles that may not seem directly related to their degree. For instance, early positions often include account management, administrative roles, and various teaching positions. This indicates a mix of job placements, with some graduates finding paths in the education sector while others branch into business or administrative roles. The prevalence of substitute teaching positions suggests that a number of history graduates may initially pivot toward education, leveraging their history background in social studies teaching. However, not all paths remain clearly defined after that initial job; several graduates have transitioned out of teaching or history-specific roles into more general business positions or other indeterminate fields.

Five to ten years down the line, the picture becomes more varied. Some individuals have managed to climb the ladder within their chosen fields, such as leadership roles in education or significant positions in business. Roles like Chief Executive Officer or Director show that at least a few have found ways to leverage their skills and experiences effectively, achieving a degree of success that is commendable. However, it's also notable that a fair number of graduates seem to settle into positions that, while stable, might not be especially fulfilling or closely related to their history training. This mix of outcomes suggests that while some graduates from West Chester are finding rewarding paths that reflect their academic background, others are navigating a career landscape that seems less aligned with their degree, leading to a blend of administrative and teaching roles alongside various other job types.

How hard is a History degree from West Chester University of Pennsylvania?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in History at West Chester University, or really anywhere, can be a mix of challenge and fun. On one hand, you'll definitely have to read a lot—like, a ton—of books, articles, and primary sources, which can feel overwhelming at times. And writing papers is a big part of the deal, so if you enjoy researching and putting your thoughts into words, you might find that part easier. It tends to be a little more manageable than some STEM majors, but it still requires commitment and critical thinking. So, if you're genuinely interested in digging into the past and can handle a good amount of reading and writing, you’ll probably find it moderately challenging, but not impossible—kind of like a history-themed rollercoaster!

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 West Chester University of Pennsylvania tend to make good money?

Looking at these History graduates from West Chester University, it seems like they've had a pretty mixed bag when it comes to making decent money. The one who graduated in 2015 appears to be doing really well as the CEO of Devault Foods, which likely brings in a solid paycheck. On the flip side, many others, like those in teaching or entry-level positions, probably aren’t pulling in massive salaries, especially in the earlier stages of their careers. Teaching jobs can be rewarding, but they often pay less than other fields, especially when starting out. So, while some of these grads are doing great financially, others are likely taking a more modest route, especially early 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 West Chester University of Pennsylvania). 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