How many U.S. Presidents went to Harvard, and does it matter for college admissions?
I'm starting to research colleges and noticed a lot of people mention how many presidents attended certain schools, like Harvard. People keep saying Harvard is known for producing a bunch of U.S. Presidents, but I'm not sure exactly how many there are, or if that actually means anything for me as an applicant.
Is there a list of U.S. Presidents who graduated from Harvard? Also, does the fact that a school has produced big political figures have any kind of impact on undergraduate applications, or is it just a cool trivia thing? I’m interested in possibly majoring in political science so I was wondering if this should factor into my college list.
Would love to hear any thoughts or info from people who know more about this!
Is there a list of U.S. Presidents who graduated from Harvard? Also, does the fact that a school has produced big political figures have any kind of impact on undergraduate applications, or is it just a cool trivia thing? I’m interested in possibly majoring in political science so I was wondering if this should factor into my college list.
Would love to hear any thoughts or info from people who know more about this!
1 week ago
•
17 views
Luis Nario-Malberg
• 1 week ago
Advisor
Harvard University has an impressive roster of U.S. Presidents among its alumni. As of 2024, eight U.S. Presidents have graduated from Harvard:
1. John Adams (undergraduate)
2. John Quincy Adams (undergraduate)
3. Rutherford B. Hayes (Harvard Law School)
4. Theodore Roosevelt (undergraduate)
5. Franklin D. Roosevelt (undergraduate)
6. John F. Kennedy (undergraduate)
7. George W. Bush (Harvard Business School)
8. Barack Obama (Harvard Law School)
It’s important to note that several attended Harvard for graduate or professional degrees rather than as undergraduates. For example, Barack Obama attended Harvard Law School, and George W. Bush went to Harvard Business School. Only some, like John F. Kennedy, were Harvard College undergraduates.
While this is definitely a fascinating statistic and speaks to Harvard's long history of influential alumni, it doesn't directly affect your chances of admission or necessarily make it a better school for political science. College admissions representatives aren’t expecting every applicant to be a future president, and their decisions are based on your application as a whole—grades, extracurriculars, essays, and fit with the school—not just a school’s presidential legacy.
The bigger impact comes from what’s behind those statistics: Harvard’s strong alumni network, its historical role in U.S. politics, and the resources available for students interested in public service. For example, if you aim to work in government or public policy, Harvard’s Institute of Politics and frequent networking events with high-level public officials could be valuable opportunities. But you can find excellent political science programs and strong alumni connections at other schools as well. Princeton, Yale, and Georgetown, for example, are also well-represented in political circles, though with different presidential tallies.
In short, while the number of presidents who went to Harvard makes for interesting trivia and can reflect a school’s culture or network, it shouldn’t be the main factor in your college search. Focus on whether the political science faculty, internships, extracurriculars, and campus vibe match what you’re looking for in your undergraduate experience. For example, if you’re passionate about public policy research and want hands-on involvement, check which schools offer undergraduate opportunities in these areas—sometimes, smaller programs can mean more access to professors and practical experience.
Use historical alumni info as one piece of context, but dig deeper into each school’s current strengths and opportunities for undergrads in your field.
1. John Adams (undergraduate)
2. John Quincy Adams (undergraduate)
3. Rutherford B. Hayes (Harvard Law School)
4. Theodore Roosevelt (undergraduate)
5. Franklin D. Roosevelt (undergraduate)
6. John F. Kennedy (undergraduate)
7. George W. Bush (Harvard Business School)
8. Barack Obama (Harvard Law School)
It’s important to note that several attended Harvard for graduate or professional degrees rather than as undergraduates. For example, Barack Obama attended Harvard Law School, and George W. Bush went to Harvard Business School. Only some, like John F. Kennedy, were Harvard College undergraduates.
While this is definitely a fascinating statistic and speaks to Harvard's long history of influential alumni, it doesn't directly affect your chances of admission or necessarily make it a better school for political science. College admissions representatives aren’t expecting every applicant to be a future president, and their decisions are based on your application as a whole—grades, extracurriculars, essays, and fit with the school—not just a school’s presidential legacy.
The bigger impact comes from what’s behind those statistics: Harvard’s strong alumni network, its historical role in U.S. politics, and the resources available for students interested in public service. For example, if you aim to work in government or public policy, Harvard’s Institute of Politics and frequent networking events with high-level public officials could be valuable opportunities. But you can find excellent political science programs and strong alumni connections at other schools as well. Princeton, Yale, and Georgetown, for example, are also well-represented in political circles, though with different presidential tallies.
In short, while the number of presidents who went to Harvard makes for interesting trivia and can reflect a school’s culture or network, it shouldn’t be the main factor in your college search. Focus on whether the political science faculty, internships, extracurriculars, and campus vibe match what you’re looking for in your undergraduate experience. For example, if you’re passionate about public policy research and want hands-on involvement, check which schools offer undergraduate opportunities in these areas—sometimes, smaller programs can mean more access to professors and practical experience.
Use historical alumni info as one piece of context, but dig deeper into each school’s current strengths and opportunities for undergrads in your field.
Luis Nario-Malberg
Mooresville, North Carolina
Harvard College, Class of 2018, A.B. in Philosophy
Experience
5 years