History vs Political Science Careers
History bachelor’s degrees fell 33.5%, compared with 5.7% for political science, alongside different earnings and career links.
Compare history and political-science bachelor’s degrees with career alignment, pay, growth, and observed AI use. Use IPEDS, College Scorecard earnings, ACS and NSCG, CIP–SOC, BLS workforce measures, job requirements, and both AI-use datasets. Highlight how similar degree trends can lead to different career patterns. Create one chart and explain what no dataset can prove.
Both fields declined, but History fell faster
History bachelor’s degrees fell from 30,450 in 2014–15 to 20,238 in provisional 2025–26.
Political Science and Government fell from 36,431 to 34,357 degrees during the same period.
These changes equal declines of 33.5% for History and 5.7% for Political Science and Government.
The replacement chart separates the fields into facets with a shared scale. Its downloadable rows identify the field, collection cycle, and degree count.
Political science has higher broader-field earnings
The national College Scorecard benchmark shows higher earnings for the broader political-science field.
| Field | One-year earnings | Four-year earnings |
|---|---|---|
| History | $28,886 | $52,423 |
| Political Science and Government | $33,829 | $64,270 |
These are cohort-weighted medians inherited from broader field groups. They are not exact-program outcomes for every graduate.
Structural links lead to different career patterns
The federal CIP–SOC crosswalk connects History with historians and postsecondary history teachers.
It connects Political Science and Government with political scientists, research assistants, and postsecondary political-science teachers.
| Structurally connected career | May 2025 median pay | Projected growth, 2024–34 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Historians | $76,750 | 2.2% | Master’s degree |
| History teachers, postsecondary | $83,820 | −0.2% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Political scientists | $142,080 | −3.1% | Master’s degree |
| Political-science teachers, postsecondary | $98,070 | 2.0% | Doctoral or professional degree |
BLS reports these wages separately from its 2024–34 projections and education requirements.
Anthropic measures show different observed-use patterns
Anthropic’s occupation-level observed-use measure was 0.452 for political scientists and 0.028 for historians.
Detailed May–June 2026 observations separate first-party API use from Claude.ai use.
For historians, automation represented 93.75% of observed API interactions and 36.46% of Claude.ai interactions.
For political scientists, automation represented 98.18% of observed API interactions and 25.39% of Claude.ai interactions.
These categories describe observed Claude interactions. They do not measure worker replacement or employment effects.
The sources do not establish causation or placement
IPEDS measures degrees reported by colleges, not graduates’ career destinations.
CIP–SOC links describe structural preparation paths, not placement rates or employment probabilities.
These sources cannot establish that degree declines caused differences in earnings, career alignment, pay, or projected growth.
History degrees fell faster than political-science degrees, 2014–15 to 2025–26
Two faceted line charts share the same scale across 12 IPEDS collection cycles. History decreases from 30,450 bachelor’s degrees in 2014–15 to 20,238 in provisional 2025–26. Political Science and Government decreases from 36,431 to 34,357. Every downloadable row identifies the field of study, IPEDS collection cycle, and bachelor’s-degree count.
| Field of study | IPEDS collection cycle | Bachelor’s degrees | Cip6 | Coverage State | Crosswalk Source Release | Mapping Ambiguity | Mapping State | Publication Date | Publication Snapshot Id | Reference Period End | Reference Period Label | Reference Period Start | Release Stage | Source Release Id |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Political Science and Government, General. | 2014-15 | 36,431 | 45.1001 | observed | nces-cip-2010-to-2020-crosswalk | one_to_one | direct | 2017-01-13 | ipeds-publication-2026-08-25-ipeds-2025-26-v1 | 2016-12-31 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and gender:July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014 (revised August 2016) | 2013-01-01 | revised | ipeds-c-2014-15-revised-2017-01-13 |
| History, General. | 2014-15 | 30,450 | 54.0101 | observed | nces-cip-2010-to-2020-crosswalk | one_to_one | direct | 2017-01-13 | ipeds-publication-2026-08-25-ipeds-2025-26-v1 | 2016-12-31 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and gender:July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014 (revised August 2016) | 2013-01-01 | revised | ipeds-c-2014-15-revised-2017-01-13 |
| Political Science and Government, General. | 2015-16 | 34,489 | 45.1001 | observed | nces-cip-2010-to-2020-crosswalk | one_to_one | direct | 2018-07-24 | ipeds-publication-2026-08-25-ipeds-2025-26-v1 | 2017-12-31 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and gender: July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015 (revised November 2017) | 2014-01-01 | revised | ipeds-c-2015-16-revised-2018-07-24 |
| History, General. | 2015-16 | 27,522 | 54.0101 | observed | nces-cip-2010-to-2020-crosswalk | one_to_one | direct | 2018-07-24 | ipeds-publication-2026-08-25-ipeds-2025-26-v1 | 2017-12-31 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and gender: July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015 (revised November 2017) | 2014-01-01 | revised | ipeds-c-2015-16-revised-2018-07-24 |
| Political Science and Government, General. | 2016-17 | 33,093 | 45.1001 | observed | nces-cip-2010-to-2020-crosswalk | one_to_one | direct | 2018-12-03 | ipeds-publication-2026-08-25-ipeds-2025-26-v1 | 2018-12-31 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and gender: July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016 (revised August 2018) | 2015-01-01 | revised | ipeds-c-2016-17-revised-2018-12-03 |
| History, General. | 2016-17 | 25,027 | 54.0101 | observed | nces-cip-2010-to-2020-crosswalk | one_to_one | direct | 2018-12-03 | ipeds-publication-2026-08-25-ipeds-2025-26-v1 | 2018-12-31 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and gender: July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016 (revised August 2018) | 2015-01-01 | revised | ipeds-c-2016-17-revised-2018-12-03 |
| Political Science and Government, General. | 2017-18 | 33,293 | 45.1001 | observed | nces-cip-2010-to-2020-crosswalk | one_to_one | direct | 2019-10-28 | ipeds-publication-2026-08-25-ipeds-2025-26-v1 | 2019-12-31 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and gender: July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017 (revised August 2019) | 2016-01-01 | revised | ipeds-c-2017-18-revised-2019-10-28 |
| History, General. | 2017-18 | 23,525 | 54.0101 | observed | nces-cip-2010-to-2020-crosswalk | one_to_one | direct | 2019-10-28 | ipeds-publication-2026-08-25-ipeds-2025-26-v1 | 2019-12-31 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and gender: July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017 (revised August 2019) | 2016-01-01 | revised | ipeds-c-2017-18-revised-2019-10-28 |
| Political Science and Government, General. | 2018-19 | 34,005 | 45.1001 | observed | nces-cip-2010-to-2020-crosswalk | one_to_one | direct | 2021-01-27 | ipeds-publication-2026-08-25-ipeds-2025-26-v1 | 2020-12-31 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and gender: July 1, 2017 to June 30 2018, (revised July 2020) | 2017-01-01 | revised | ipeds-c-2018-19-revised-2021-01-27 |
| History, General. | 2018-19 | 22,830 | 54.0101 | observed | nces-cip-2010-to-2020-crosswalk | one_to_one | direct | 2021-01-27 | ipeds-publication-2026-08-25-ipeds-2025-26-v1 | 2020-12-31 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and gender: July 1, 2017 to June 30 2018, (revised July 2020) | 2017-01-01 | revised | ipeds-c-2018-19-revised-2021-01-27 |
| Political Science and Government, General. | 2019-20 | 35,730 | 45.1001 | observed | nces-cip-2010-to-2020-crosswalk | one_to_one | direct | 2021-10-28 | ipeds-publication-2026-08-25-ipeds-2025-26-v1 | 2021-12-31 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and gender: July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019 (revised July 2021) | 2018-01-01 | revised | ipeds-c-2019-20-revised-2021-10-28 |
| History, General. | 2019-20 | 22,607 | 54.0101 | observed | nces-cip-2010-to-2020-crosswalk | one_to_one | direct | 2021-10-28 | ipeds-publication-2026-08-25-ipeds-2025-26-v1 | 2021-12-31 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and gender: July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019 (revised July 2021) | 2018-01-01 | revised | ipeds-c-2019-20-revised-2021-10-28 |
| Political Science and Government, General. | 2020-21 | 36,992 | 45.1001 | observed | — | one_to_one | direct | 2022-11-09 | ipeds-publication-2026-08-25-ipeds-2025-26-v1 | 2022-12-31 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and gender: July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020 (revised August 2022) | 2019-01-01 | revised | ipeds-c-2020-21-revised-2022-11-09 |
| History, General. | 2020-21 | 22,672 | 54.0101 | observed | — | one_to_one | direct | 2022-11-09 | ipeds-publication-2026-08-25-ipeds-2025-26-v1 | 2022-12-31 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and gender: July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020 (revised August 2022) | 2019-01-01 | revised | ipeds-c-2020-21-revised-2022-11-09 |
| Political Science and Government, General. | 2021-22 | 37,810 | 45.1001 | observed | — | one_to_one | direct | 2023-12-07 | ipeds-publication-2026-08-25-ipeds-2025-26-v1 | 2023-12-31 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and gender: July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021 (revised September 2023) | 2020-01-01 | revised | ipeds-c-2021-22-revised-2023-12-07 |
| History, General. | 2021-22 | 22,390 | 54.0101 | observed | — | one_to_one | direct | 2023-12-07 | ipeds-publication-2026-08-25-ipeds-2025-26-v1 | 2023-12-31 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and gender: July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021 (revised September 2023) | 2020-01-01 | revised | ipeds-c-2021-22-revised-2023-12-07 |
| Political Science and Government, General. | 2022-23 | 36,123 | 45.1001 | observed | — | one_to_one | direct | 2024-11-22 | ipeds-publication-2026-08-25-ipeds-2025-26-v1 | 2024-12-31 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and gender: July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022 (revised August 2024) | 2021-01-01 | revised | ipeds-c-2022-23-revised-2024-11-22 |
| History, General. | 2022-23 | 20,891 | 54.0101 | observed | — | one_to_one | direct | 2024-11-22 | ipeds-publication-2026-08-25-ipeds-2025-26-v1 | 2024-12-31 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and gender: July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022 (revised August 2024) | 2021-01-01 | revised | ipeds-c-2022-23-revised-2024-11-22 |
| Political Science and Government, General. | 2023-24 | 35,427 | 45.1001 | observed | — | one_to_one | direct | 2025-12-30 | ipeds-publication-2026-08-25-ipeds-2025-26-v1 | 2025-12-31 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and gender: July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 (revised September 2025) | 2022-01-01 | revised | ipeds-c-2023-24-revised-2025-12-30 |
| History, General. | 2023-24 | 20,862 | 54.0101 | observed | — | one_to_one | direct | 2025-12-30 | ipeds-publication-2026-08-25-ipeds-2025-26-v1 | 2025-12-31 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and gender: July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 (revised September 2025) | 2022-01-01 | revised | ipeds-c-2023-24-revised-2025-12-30 |
| Political Science and Government, General. | 2024-25 | 34,454 | 45.1001 | observed | — | one_to_one | direct | 2025-12-30 | ipeds-publication-2026-08-25-ipeds-2025-26-v1 | 2024-12-31 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and gender: July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024 | 2023-01-01 | provisional | ipeds-c-2024-25-provisional-2025-12-30 |
| History, General. | 2024-25 | 20,348 | 54.0101 | observed | — | one_to_one | direct | 2025-12-30 | ipeds-publication-2026-08-25-ipeds-2025-26-v1 | 2024-12-31 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and gender: July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024 | 2023-01-01 | provisional | ipeds-c-2024-25-provisional-2025-12-30 |
| Political Science and Government, General. | 2025-26 | 34,357 | 45.1001 | observed | — | one_to_one | direct | 2026-07-21 | ipeds-publication-2026-08-25-ipeds-2025-26-v1 | 2025-12-31 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | 2024-01-01 | provisional | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 |
| History, General. | 2025-26 | 20,238 | 54.0101 | observed | — | one_to_one | direct | 2026-07-21 | ipeds-publication-2026-08-25-ipeds-2025-26-v1 | 2025-12-31 | Awards/degrees conferred by program (6-digit CIP code), award level, race/ethnicity, and sex: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 | 2024-01-01 | provisional | ipeds-c-2025-26-provisional-2026-07-21 |