How many US presidents went to Harvard?
I’ve been researching colleges and got pretty interested in which schools famous people, especially presidents, attended. I know Harvard is a really popular school, but I’m not exactly sure how many presidents actually graduated from there. Some sources say a few, while other lists seem longer because they include grad programs and law school.
Could someone clarify this for me? Is there an official number of US presidents who have graduated from Harvard, and does it count only undergrad, or are grad programs included as well? I’m curious because I want to see the impact certain colleges have had on government leaders.
Could someone clarify this for me? Is there an official number of US presidents who have graduated from Harvard, and does it count only undergrad, or are grad programs included as well? I’m curious because I want to see the impact certain colleges have had on government leaders.
2 weeks ago
•
20 views
Luis Nario-Malberg
• 2 weeks ago
Advisor
Harvard has certainly made a significant mark in presidential history, but the number depends on whether you count only undergraduate degrees or include graduate and professional school alumni as well.
If you count *all* degrees—meaning undergraduate, law, business, and other graduate programs—a total of eight U.S. presidents have earned a degree from Harvard:
1. John Adams (earned master's from Harvard; undergrad as well)
2. John Quincy Adams (undergrad)
3. Rutherford B. Hayes (Harvard Law School)
4. Theodore Roosevelt (undergrad)
5. Franklin D. Roosevelt (undergrad)
6. John F. Kennedy (undergrad)
7. George W. Bush (Harvard Business School)
8. Barack Obama (Harvard Law School)
It's worth noting that some, like John Adams and his son John Quincy Adams, earned undergraduate degrees at Harvard College, while others attended Harvard Law or Business School. No U.S. president has received an undergraduate degree from Harvard since John F. Kennedy in 1940, though several have completed graduate or professional degrees there more recently.
When you see longer lists, they're probably including presidents who attended Harvard for a year or two but didn't graduate, or who received honorary degrees—which aren't typically counted.
Harvard's impact on U.S. leadership is significant. For example, Barack Obama graduated from Harvard Law School, which played a major role in shaping his career as a constitutional law professor and later as president. George W. Bush attended Yale as an undergrad, but his Harvard MBA experience influenced his leadership style and management approach.
In short, if you include both undergraduate and graduate degrees, eight U.S. presidents have earned a degree from Harvard. If you only count undergraduate alumni, it's five: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy.
This college's influence in producing national leaders, especially with such a strong law and government program, is part of what makes it so prominent in discussions about education and leadership.
If you count *all* degrees—meaning undergraduate, law, business, and other graduate programs—a total of eight U.S. presidents have earned a degree from Harvard:
1. John Adams (earned master's from Harvard; undergrad as well)
2. John Quincy Adams (undergrad)
3. Rutherford B. Hayes (Harvard Law School)
4. Theodore Roosevelt (undergrad)
5. Franklin D. Roosevelt (undergrad)
6. John F. Kennedy (undergrad)
7. George W. Bush (Harvard Business School)
8. Barack Obama (Harvard Law School)
It's worth noting that some, like John Adams and his son John Quincy Adams, earned undergraduate degrees at Harvard College, while others attended Harvard Law or Business School. No U.S. president has received an undergraduate degree from Harvard since John F. Kennedy in 1940, though several have completed graduate or professional degrees there more recently.
When you see longer lists, they're probably including presidents who attended Harvard for a year or two but didn't graduate, or who received honorary degrees—which aren't typically counted.
Harvard's impact on U.S. leadership is significant. For example, Barack Obama graduated from Harvard Law School, which played a major role in shaping his career as a constitutional law professor and later as president. George W. Bush attended Yale as an undergrad, but his Harvard MBA experience influenced his leadership style and management approach.
In short, if you include both undergraduate and graduate degrees, eight U.S. presidents have earned a degree from Harvard. If you only count undergraduate alumni, it's five: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy.
This college's influence in producing national leaders, especially with such a strong law and government program, is part of what makes it so prominent in discussions about education and leadership.
Luis Nario-Malberg
Mooresville, North Carolina
Harvard College, Class of 2018, A.B. in Philosophy
Experience
5 years