The 35 colleges that produced the most US presidents, ranked

Barack Obama went to Harvard University, the undergraduate alma mater of five US presidents, for law school. / Some US colleges have alumni who have reached the highest office in the country. The Ivy League, the US Military Academy, and some liberal arts colleges have produced US presidents. Harvard University leads the ranking, with five former presidents among its ambitious alumni. Some US colleges stand out for being highly selective schools, for having some of the highest-earning graduates, or for their surprising sticker prices. But some have bragging rights to a different metric: multiple former US presidents among their alumni. The oldest school in the country leads the pack in producing the most commanders in chief. Harvard University has taught five US presidents at the undergraduate level, more than any other school in the country. A number of other schools also helped shape the minds of the 45 men who have served as president throughout the nation's history, including Ivy League institutions, small Christian colleges, and state research universities. However, presidents didn't necessarily graduate from all of the schools on this list. Some future leaders, including William McKinley, John F. Kennedy, and Jimmy Carter, bounced between institutions during their undergraduate years for financial reasons, health difficulties, or changing preferences. But US presidents did study at an undergraduate level at all of these colleges. Many also went on to attend law school and pursue graduate studies, although this list does not include those institutions. Other presidents, including George Washington, never attended college at all. Here's a look at which colleges' undergraduate programs have produced the most US presidents. Fordham University: President: Donald Trump Donald Trump attended this Bronx-based Jesuit school before transferring to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. According to "The Trumps: Three Generations of Builders and a Presidential Candidate," the president's sister, Maryanne, said that Trump chose to attend the college because "that's where he got in." University of Delaware: One president Joe Biden is the only US president to attend the University of Delaware. President: Joe Biden During his college years at the University of Delaware in Newark, Joe Biden "was more interested in football, girls and late-night gab sessions than in his studies," The New York Times wrote in a 2008 profile. Biden's school transcript showed that he earned mostly C's and D's during his first three semesters. Biden quit the football team after receiving a warning from his parents to focus on his grades and after meeting Neilia Hunter, who would become his first wife, The Daily Pennsylvanian student newspaper reported. Occidental College: President: Barack Obama Before attending Columbia University, Barack Obama studied for two years at Occidental College in Los Angeles. Columbia University: /iStockphoto President: Barack Obama Obama transferred to Columbia University as a junior. There, he studied political science with a specialty in international relations, as well as English literature. Georgetown University: /iStockphoto President: Bill Clinton Bill Clinton received scholarships to attend Georgetown University, where he was class president in 1964 and 1965. Eureka College: President: Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan attended this nonprofit Christian college, originally founded by abolitionists in 1855. Georgia Southwestern State University: One president John Bazemore / POOL / AFP President: Jimmy Carter Jimmy Carter bounced around before transferring to the US Naval Academy. He began his undergraduate journey at Georgia Southwestern College before transferring to the Georgia Institute of Technology. Georgia Institute of Technology: President: Jimmy Carter After leaving Georgia Southwestern State University, Carter attended this public research university before transferring to the US Naval Academy. United States Naval Academy: /iStockphoto President: Jimmy Carter As a young man, Carter had always dreamed of attending the US Naval Academy. He achieved that goal in 1943. University of Michigan: President: Gerald Ford Gerald Ford attended the University of Michigan, where he was a star player on the Wolverines football team. Whittier College: President: Richard Nixon Richard Nixon attended Whittier College. He had received a grant to attend Harvard, but he remained in his hometown of Whittier, California, in order to help his parents care for his tuberculosis-stricken older brother and run the family grocery store. Texas State University: President: Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon B. Johnson enrolled at the Southwest Texas State Normal School, now known as Texas State University. There, he became editor of the student newspaper and honed his debate skills. London School of Economics: One president formerly Her Majesty's Land Registry Building President: John F. Kennedy John F. Kennedy briefly studied at the London School of Economics before being forced to return to the US due to health reasons. Stanford University: President: Herbert Hoover Herbert Hoover entered Stanford University in 1891, the first year the school admitted any students. He later claimed to be the university's first student, having sneaked into its unfinished dormitories and slept there before anyone else. Amherst College: One president Boston Globe/Boston Globe via Getty Images President: Calvin Coolidge Calvin Coolidge sharpened his debating skills at Amherst College, from which he graduated in 1895. Ohio Central College: President: Warren Harding Warren Harding attended Ohio Central College, where he founded a student newspaper: The Iberia Spectator. The college, founded by the Free Presbyterian Church, ceased operations by the end of the 19th century. Davidson College: President: Woodrow Wilson Woodrow Wilson's time at Davidson ended in 1874 after he fell ill. He later moved on to study at Princeton. Allegheny College: President: William McKinley William McKinley attended this Pennsylvania liberal arts school before withdrawing. During his time at the school, he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. University of Mount Union: President: William McKinley McKinley briefly studied at the University of Mount Union — then known as Mount Union College — but was forced to withdraw for financial reasons. Miami University: One president A. President: Benjamin Harrison Benjamin Harrison graduated from Miami University in 1852. There, he was involved with Phi Delta Theta. Union College: /iStockphoto President: Chester A. Arthur Chester A. Arthur was president of the debate club at Union College, a private liberal arts college in Schenectady, New York. Hiram College: /iStockphoto President: James Garfield James Garfield attended Hiram College, then called the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute, where he worked as a janitor and an instructor and wooed his wife, Lucretia. Williams College: President: James Garfield Garfield later graduated from Williams College in 1856 and served as his class's salutatorian. Kenyon College: President: Rutherford B. Hayes Rutherford B. Hayes didn't just attend Kenyon College — he graduated as the valedictorian of the class of 1824. Dickinson College: President: James Buchanan James Buchanan, who began attending Dickinson College in 1807, was expelled from the school in 1808 for bad behavior. He later graduated from the school, although he kept no strong ties to his alma mater, per the school's archives. Bowdoin College: President: Franklin Pierce Franklin Pierce attended the Maine school, where he was ranked last in his class after two years. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: One President: James K. Polk James K. Polk matriculated at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1816. There, he roomed with William Dunn Moseley, the first US governor of Florida. Hampden-Sydney College: /iStockphoto President: William Henry Harrison William Henry Harrison attended Hampden-Sydney when he was just 14. He studied there for three years but eventually left the school on his father's orders. Leiden University: President: John Quincy Adams Leiden University may be the oldest university in the Netherlands, but it also had an impact on US history as well. John Quincy Adams attended the storied school while accompanying his father on a diplomatic mission to France. University of Pennsylvania: /iStockphoto Presidents: William Henry Harrison and Donald Trump Harrison had quite an opportunity at the University of Pennsylvania, which he began attending in 1790. He studied medicine under Dr. Benjamin Rush, a famed physician and Founding Father who signed the Declaration of Independence. However, Harrison realized shortly after that he didn't want to be a physician. He told his biographer that he found himself "not liking the medical profession," so, after his father died and left his family in financial straits, he pursued a military career. The first actual University of Pennsylvania graduate to ascend to the White House is Trump, who transferred from Fordham University to the Wharton School. While in college, Trump worked for his father's business. In speeches, Trump often uses his Wharton pedigree as evidence that he is "a very smart person." "Good genes, very good genes, OK, very smart, the Wharton School of Finance, very good, very smart," he told a South Carolina crowd in July 2015. United States Military Academy (West Point): Presidents: Ulysses S. Grant and Dwight Eisenhower Ulysses S. Grant didn't just get a military education from West Point; he got a new name there. The future president was born Hiram Ulysses Grant, but his sponsor, Rep. Thomas Hamer, accidentally wrote down the wrong name. So the new cadet became known as "Sam" around campus because his new "US" initials also stood for "Uncle Sam." At the Academy, Grant developed a reputation as a phenomenal horseman. Dwight Eisenhower entered West Point in 1911, where he played football and was a member of the class of 1915. This group of West Point alumni would become known as "the class the stars fell on," given that 59 of its members became general officers. The College of William & Mary: Presidents: Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, and John Tyler The College of William & Mary produced three presidents, although the last one graduated in 1807. Thomas Jefferson enrolled at the school when he was 16. He wasn't a fan of Williamsburg, Virginia, however, which he labeled as "Devilsburg." James Monroe studied at the college, but was more focused on revolutionary activities than attending class. In 1776, he dropped out after a year and a half in order to fight in the American Revolution. John Tyler was the final president to attend the school. He was following in the footsteps of his father, who knew Jefferson in college. Princeton University: Presidents: James Madison, Woodrow Wilson, and John F. Kennedy Three presidents attended Princeton University, which was originally known as the College of New Jersey. One transferred to a different Ivy League school, while another went on to become president of the college. According to the book "James Madison: Philosopher, Founder, and Statesman," Madison may have come close to an emotional breakdown as a student due to the intensity of his studies. Meanwhile, Woodrow Wilson studied at Princeton and was active in several debate societies. Wilson eventually returned to Princeton as an academic in 1890 and became president of the school in 1902. John F. Kennedy only studied at Princeton briefly before transferring to Harvard. Yale University: Presidents: William Howard Taft, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush. William Howard Taft was a big man on campus at Yale College and graduated second in his class. The only two other Yale alumni to ascend to the White House were the father-and-son duo of George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. All three presidents were members of the Skull and Bones secret society. Harvard University: Presidents: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy Harvard University has produced the most presidents in US history. John Adams, the first college-educated US president, attended the school. After returning from his travels in Europe, Adams' son John Quincy Adams also returned to his father's alma mater. Continuing the familial tradition, both Roosevelts attended Harvard. In addition to committing himself to his studies, Theodore Roosevelt also boxed and rowed. Meanwhile, Franklin D. Roosevelt was editor of The Harvard Crimson and joined the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity. The last Harvard alum to become president was Kennedy. In his application, he noted that his father also attended the school and wrote, "To be a 'Harvard man' is an enviable distinction and one that I sincerely hope I shall attain." Editor's note: This story was first published in June 2018 and most recently updated in October 2026. Áine Cain contributed to an earlier version of this report. Read the original article on Business Insider

Read it at Business Insider ↗

← Front page