Key takeaways
- Harvard University has educated the most presidents. Eight of them attended Harvard: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Rutherford B. Hayes, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.
- 8 presidents never attended college, including George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Grover Cleveland.
- Most modern presidents earned a bachelor’s degree. Only some went on to earn advanced degrees in law or business.
- Some presidents attended multiple schools. Others gained leadership experience outside of formal education, like military service or self-study.
The history of the United States is closely tied to its presidents. Since 1789, 45 people have held the office, serving a total of 47 presidencies. This is because two individuals, Grover Cleveland and Donald J. Trump, served non-consecutive terms (and are thus counted twice).
Presidents have come from a wide range of educational backgrounds. Some attended Ivy League schools, others went to public universities, and some never went to college at all.
From law degrees to military academies, and even self-taught leaders, the paths to the Oval Office have been very different. Here is a look at where every U.S. president went to college and the education that helped shape America’s leaders.
Where did each U.S. president go to college?
U.S. presidents have gone to many different schools, and some didn’t go to college at all. Take a look at where they went to school and how their education helped shape them as leaders.
1. George Washington
- School(s): Did not attend college
- Degree(s): N/A
Washington never attended college. After his father’s passing, he didn’t receive a formal education. However, he was a lifelong learner who studied geometry, trigonometry, and surveying to prepare himself for a career as a land surveyor. He led the Continental Army to victory in the Revolutionary War and became the nation’s first president.
2. John Adams
- School(s): Harvard University
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts
Adams earned multiple degrees from Harvard. He helped draft the Declaration of Independence and served as the nation’s second president.
3. Thomas Jefferson
- School(s): William & Mary
- Degree(s): Jefferson’s seven years of study at William & Mary culminated in the practice of law, but without any type of “degree” as might be granted today.
Jefferson studied law at William & Mary. He authored the Declaration of Independence and served as the third president.
4. James Madison
- School(s): Princeton University (previously The College of New Jersey)
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts
Madison graduated from Princeton with a BA. He is known as the “Father of the Constitution” and led the nation during the War of 1812.
5. James Monroe
Monroe attended William & Mary but did not graduate, leaving school to fight in the Revolutionary War. He established the Monroe Doctrine and oversaw the Missouri Compromise.
6. John Quincy Adams
- School(s): Leiden University & Harvard University
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from Harvard University
Adams attended Leiden University in the Netherlands but did not earn a degree there. He later enrolled at Harvard, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts. After graduating, he apprenticed under lawyer Theophilus Parsons before passing the bar exam. Adams is known for negotiating the Treaty of Ghent and serving as the sixth U.S. president.
7. Andrew Jackson
- School(s): Did not attend college
- Degree(s): N/A
Jackson did not attend college. However, he studied law independently and became a successful lawyer. Jackson was a war hero from the Battle of New Orleans and expanded presidential power during his two terms.
8. Martin Van Buren
- School(s): Did not attend college
- Degree(s): N/A
Van Buren became a law clerk at the age of 14. He then apprenticed with a lawyer, studying for seven years before being admitted to the New York Bar in 1803. He was a key architect of the Democratic Party and served as the eighth president.
9. William Henry Harrison
- School(s): Hampden–Sydney College & the University of Pennsylvania
- Degree(s): N/A
Harrison studied classics and history at Hampden-Sydney College before studying medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. However, he didn’t graduate from either school. Harrison was a military leader and served the shortest presidency, dying just one month into office.
10. John Tyler
- School(s): William & Mary
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts
Tyler studied law at William & Mary. He became the first vice president to ascend to the presidency upon the death of his predecessor.
11. James K. Polk
- School(s): University of North Carolina
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts
Polk graduated with a bachelor’s degree from UNC. He expanded U.S. territory with the annexation of Texas and the Oregon Treaty.
12. Zachary Taylor
- School(s): Did not attend college
- Degree(s): N/A
Taylor never attended college. He received his education from his mother and private tutors before joining the U.S. Army. Taylor was a career military officer and a Mexican-American War hero.
13. Millard Fillmore
- School(s): Did not attend college
- Degree(s): N/A
While Fillmore received limited formal education, he studied law and clerked for a local judge. In 1823, he was admitted into the New York Bar and practiced law. As president, he signed the Compromise of 1850 and enforced the Fugitive Slave Act.
14. Franklin Pierce
- School(s): Bowdoin College & Northampton Law School
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts from Bowdoin College
After graduating from Bowdoin College, Pierce studied law for one semester at Northampton Law School. Though he didn’t earn a law degree, he was admitted into the New Hampshire Bar in 1827. As president, he oversaw the Gadsden Purchase, which expanded U.S. territory in the Southwest.
15. James Buchanan
- School(s): Dickinson College
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts
After graduating from Dickinson College, James Buchanan studied law. He was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1812. He tried to preserve the Union during his presidency as tensions over slavery intensified.
16. Abraham Lincoln
- School(s): Did not attend college
- Degree(s): N/A
Lincoln never attended college. However, through self-education, he studied law by reading books and became a lawyer. Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation to end slavery in the U.S. and also preserved the Union during the Civil War.
17. Andrew Johnson
- School(s): Did not attend college
- Degree(s): N/A
Johnson did not attend college. He apprenticed as a tailor and taught himself to read and write with the help of his wife. When he was president, he oversaw Reconstruction after the Civil War and was the first president impeached by the House of Representatives.
18. Ulysses S. Grant
- School(s): United States Military Academy
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Science
Grant graduated from West Point with a Bachelor of Science. During his presidency, he supported the 15th Amendment, which gave African American men the right to vote. Grant served two presidential terms.
19. Rutherford B. Hayes
- School(s): Kenyon College & Harvard University
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts from Kenyon College; Bachelor of Laws from Harvard University
After graduating valedictorian from Kenyon College, Hayes earned a law degree from Harvard University. As president, he ended Reconstruction and reformed the civil service.
20. James A. Garfield
- School(s): Hiram College (formerly Western Reserve Eclectic Institute) & Williams College
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts from Williams College
Garfield did not receive a degree from Western Reserve Eclectic Institute because they were unable to grant baccalaureate degrees at the time. He then earned a BA from Williams College. After graduating, he returned to Western Reserve Eclectic Institute to become a teacher. When he became president, Garfield advocated for civil service reform until his assassination in 1881.
21. Chester A. Arthur
- School(s): Union College & State and National Law School
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts from Union College
After graduating from Union College, Arthur studied at State and National Law School. However, he did not receive a law degree. Arthur was admitted to the New York Bar in 1848 and practiced law before he became president. While in office, he reformed the U.S. Customs Service and modernized the Navy.
22. Grover Cleveland
- School(s): Did not attend college
- Degree(s): N/A
Cleveland dropped out of Clinton Liberal Institute to take care of his family after his father’s passing. He later worked as a law clerk, studied law on his own, and passed the bar exam. Cleveland was the first president to serve two non-consecutive terms and used his veto power to curb government spending in his first term.
23. Benjamin Harrison
- School(s): Farmers’ College & Miami University
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts from Miami University
Harrison attended Farmers’ College as a preparatory school and did not graduate with a degree. Then, he graduated from Miami University with a bachelor’s degree before studying law through an apprenticeship for two years. In 1854, he passed the Ohio bar exam and practiced law before serving as president. During his presidency, Harrison facilitated the admission of six new states.
24. Grover Cleveland — Second Term
Grover Cleveland’s second presidential term focused heavily on restoring stability after the Panic of 1893, one of the worst financial crises of the era. His administration is also known for strengthening federal authority during the Pullman Strike.
25. William McKinley
- School(s): Allegheny College, University of Mount Union, & Albany Law School
- Degree(s): N/A
McKinley withdrew from Allegheny College and the University of Mount Union due to illness after attending both schools briefly. He studied at Albany Law School for one year before leaving. He then prepared for the bar exam and passed in 1867. During his presidency, he led the nation to victory in the Spanish-American War.
26. Theodore Roosevelt
- School(s): Harvard University & Columbia University Law School
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University
After graduating magna cum laude from Harvard, Theodore Roosevelt studied law at Columbia University. After one year, he withdrew to pursue a career in public service. As president, he championed progressive reforms, conserved national parks, and won the Nobel Peace Prize.
27. William Howard Taft
- School(s): Yale University (formerly Yale College) & the University of Cincinnati College of Law (formerly Cincinnati Law School)
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts from Yale College; Bachelor of Laws from Cincinnati Law School
After receiving his law degree, Taft built a distinguished legal and political career. He served as both president of the United States and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Today, he remains the only person to have held both positions.
28. Woodrow Wilson
- School(s): Davidson College, Princeton University (formerly The College of New Jersey), the University of Virginia, & Johns Hopkins University
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts from The College of New Jersey; Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University
Wilson went to Davidson College for one year before withdrawing. He earned his bachelor’s degree at The College of New Jersey before moving on to studying law at the University of Virginia. He withdrew a year later when he realized he did not like practicing law. After leaving UVA, he received a Ph.D. in history and government from Johns Hopkins University. During his presidency, he led the U.S. through World War I and crafted the League of Nations.
29. Warren G. Harding
- School(s): Ohio Central College
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Science
Warren G. Harding earned a bachelor’s degree from Ohio Central College. As president, he called for a “return to normalcy” after World War I and advocated for civil rights.
30. Calvin Coolidge
- School(s): Amherst College
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts
After graduating with honors from Amherst College, Coolidge studied law in the offices of Hammond and Field. In 1897, he was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar. During his presidency, he presided over the “Roaring Twenties” and advocated for limited government spending.
31. Herbert Hoover
- School(s): Stanford University
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Science
After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Stanford, Herbert Hoover became a mining engineer. When he became president, he led humanitarian relief efforts before and after World War I.
32. Franklin D. Roosevelt
- School(s): Harvard University & Columbia University Law School
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University
Franklin D. Roosevelt earned a bachelor’s degree in history before studying law briefly at Columbia. Though he didn’t graduate from law school, he passed the bar exam in New York and practiced law before becoming president. He led the U.S. through the Great Depression and World War II with the New Deal.
33. Harry S. Truman
- School(s): Spalding’s Commercial College & the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law (formerly Kansas City School of Law)
- Degree(s): N/A
Despite attending two colleges briefly, Truman did not receive a degree. He dropped out of Spalding Commercial College due to financial reasons and left Kansas City School of Law because he was too busy with politics. When he was president, he made the decision to use atomic weapons in World War II and established the Marshall Plan.
34. Dwight D. Eisenhower
- School(s): — United States Military Academy, Command and General Staff School, & Army War College
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy
After attending the United States Military Academy at West Point, Eisenhower graduated first in his class at Command and General Staff School and later went to the Army War College. During his presidency, he commanded Allied forces in Europe during World War II and promoted interstate highways.
35. John F. Kennedy
- School(s): Princeton University, Harvard University, & Stanford University
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University
Kennedy dropped out of Princeton after a couple of months. He graduated cum laude from Harvard with a Bachelor’s degree in government. After graduation, he briefly attended Stanford but withdrew to help his father with his memoirs. As president, he faced the Cuban Missile Crisis and inspired the U.S. space program.
36. Lyndon B. Johnson
- School(s): — Texas State University (formerly Southwest Texas State Teachers College) & Georgetown University Law School
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Science in History from Southwest Texas State Teachers College
Johnson graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history. Then, he attended law school but didn’t graduate with a degree. Lyndon B. Johnson advanced rapidly in politics, serving as a U.S. representative, senator, and vice president. During his presidency, he signed the Civil Rights Act and launched the Great Society programs.
37. Richard Nixon
- School(s): Whittier College & Duke University School of Law
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts from Whittier College; Bachelor of Laws from Duke University School of Law
Nixon earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Whittier College and a law degree from Duke. As president, he opened diplomatic relations with China and resigned due to the Watergate scandal.
38. Gerald Ford
- School(s): University of Michigan & Yale University Law School
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan; Bachelor of Laws from Yale University Law School
After earning his BA in economics and political science, Ford received his law degree from Yale. He’s best known for restoring trust in the presidency after Watergate and signing the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) to protect workers’ pension rights.
39. Jimmy Carter
- School(s):— Georgia Southwestern State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, United States Naval Academy, & Union College
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Science from the United States Naval Academy
Carter started his undergraduate studies at Georgia Southwestern State University before transferring to Georgia Institute of Technology. He studied there for one year before transferring to the United States Naval Academy, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science. Then, he took a six-month course at Union College to study nuclear physics. While he was president, he established the Department of Energy and the Department of Education.
40. Ronald Reagan
- School(s): Eureka College
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts
Reagan earned a BA in Economics and Sociology. As president, he helped end the Cold War and revived the economy through tax cuts.
41. George H.W. Bush
- School(s): Yale University
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts
Bush graduated from Yale with a degree in economics. He led the U.S. during the Gulf War and strengthened foreign alliances.
42. Bill Clinton
- School(s): Georgetown University, University of Oxford, & Yale University Law School
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Science from Georgetown University; Juris Doctor from Yale University
After earning a degree in foreign service at Georgetown, Clinton studied at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. Then, he earned a JD from Yale University Law School. During his presidency, he presided over strong economic growth and international peace initiatives.
43. George W. Bush
- School(s): Yale University & Harvard University Business School
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts from Yale University; Master of Business Administration from Harvard University Business School
George W. Bush earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Yale before getting an MBA from Harvard. While president, he led the U.S. through the 9/11 attacks and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
44. Barack Obama
- School(s): Occidental College, Columbia University, & Harvard University Law School
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University; Juris Doctor from Harvard University Law School
Obama studied at Occidental College for two years before transferring to Columbia University. At Columbia, he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations before receiving a JD from Harvard Law. During his presidency, he enacted healthcare reform and promoted clean energy initiatives.
45. Donald Trump
- School(s): Fordham University & the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Science from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School
After attending Fordham University for two years, Trump transferred to the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and graduated with a BS in Economics. His first term as president focused on tax reform and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
46. Joe Biden
- School(s): University of Delaware & Syracuse University College of Law
- Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts from the University of Delaware; Juris Doctor from Syracuse University College of Law
Biden double majored in history and political science at the University of Delaware. He then went on to earn a JD from Syracuse University College of Law. While he was president, he passed significant infrastructure legislation and helped navigate the U.S. through a pandemic.
47. Donald Trump — Second Term
Trump served one term, left office, and is currently serving a second non-consecutive presidential term—the first person to do so since Grover Cleveland.
What college has produced the most presidents?
Harvard University has produced the most Presidents when it comes to their undergraduate school, with 8! That includes John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Theodore Roosevelt, Rutherford B. Hayes, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush.
Find your college and follow your dreams
Every president had a different path to success. Some went to famous schools, some went to smaller colleges, and some didn’t go to college at all. What matters is learning, growing, and finding your own way to make a difference.
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