Which United States presidents attended Harvard?
I'm researching the backgrounds of different U.S. presidents for a history project, and I started wondering about how many presidents have gone to Harvard. I know Barack Obama graduated from Harvard Law, but I'm not sure about others.
Does anyone know which other presidents attended Harvard, either undergrad or grad school? I’m interested because I’m considering applying to Harvard myself, and it would be cool to know more about its history with presidents. If anyone has any fun facts or additional info about what they studied there or how their time at Harvard shaped their careers, that would be awesome!
Also, is there a resource or a list somewhere that breaks down which colleges all the presidents went to? I feel like it could help me get a better sense of the types of schools that have produced U.S. presidents.
Does anyone know which other presidents attended Harvard, either undergrad or grad school? I’m interested because I’m considering applying to Harvard myself, and it would be cool to know more about its history with presidents. If anyone has any fun facts or additional info about what they studied there or how their time at Harvard shaped their careers, that would be awesome!
Also, is there a resource or a list somewhere that breaks down which colleges all the presidents went to? I feel like it could help me get a better sense of the types of schools that have produced U.S. presidents.
1 week ago
•
22 views
Luis Nario-Malberg
• 1 week ago
Advisor
Several U.S. presidents have attended Harvard, making it one of the universities with the strongest connections to the presidency. Here’s a breakdown:
1. John Adams (2nd president): He earned an undergraduate degree from Harvard in 1755.
2. John Quincy Adams (6th president): Also attended Harvard and received his undergraduate degree.
3. Rutherford B. Hayes (19th president): He attended Harvard Law School and received his LL.B. in 1845.
4. Theodore Roosevelt (26th president): Graduated from Harvard College in 1880. Fun fact: He was heavily involved in extracurriculars like the Porcellian Club and the rowing team.
5. Franklin D. Roosevelt (32nd president): Attended Harvard College, graduating in 1903, and was an editor at The Harvard Crimson.
6. John F. Kennedy (35th president): Graduated from Harvard College in 1940. His senior thesis, "Why England Slept," was published as a book before he became a famous politician.
7. George W. Bush (43rd president): Attended Harvard Business School and earned an MBA in 1975. He’s the only president with an MBA.
8. Barack Obama (44th president): Graduated from Harvard Law School in 1991. He was the first Black president of the Harvard Law Review, which was a significant milestone.
Harvard’s legacy in producing presidents is pretty remarkable, and each brought different experiences from their time there. For example, Kennedy's exposure to international relations at Harvard had a clear influence on his eventual foreign policy focus. Obama often mentioned how his time at Harvard Law refined his critical thinking and leadership skills.
For a resource listing all college affiliations for U.S. presidents, the official White House website (whitehouse.gov) provides bios, and there are more detailed lists on the U.S. News & World Report site and the Miller Center at UVA. These show the variety of schools attended by presidents—some went to state schools, military academies, or didn’t attend college at all.
If you’re interested in Harvard for its presidential legacy, you’re in good company! Harvard’s longstanding academic excellence and alumni network definitely add to its presidential history.
1. John Adams (2nd president): He earned an undergraduate degree from Harvard in 1755.
2. John Quincy Adams (6th president): Also attended Harvard and received his undergraduate degree.
3. Rutherford B. Hayes (19th president): He attended Harvard Law School and received his LL.B. in 1845.
4. Theodore Roosevelt (26th president): Graduated from Harvard College in 1880. Fun fact: He was heavily involved in extracurriculars like the Porcellian Club and the rowing team.
5. Franklin D. Roosevelt (32nd president): Attended Harvard College, graduating in 1903, and was an editor at The Harvard Crimson.
6. John F. Kennedy (35th president): Graduated from Harvard College in 1940. His senior thesis, "Why England Slept," was published as a book before he became a famous politician.
7. George W. Bush (43rd president): Attended Harvard Business School and earned an MBA in 1975. He’s the only president with an MBA.
8. Barack Obama (44th president): Graduated from Harvard Law School in 1991. He was the first Black president of the Harvard Law Review, which was a significant milestone.
Harvard’s legacy in producing presidents is pretty remarkable, and each brought different experiences from their time there. For example, Kennedy's exposure to international relations at Harvard had a clear influence on his eventual foreign policy focus. Obama often mentioned how his time at Harvard Law refined his critical thinking and leadership skills.
For a resource listing all college affiliations for U.S. presidents, the official White House website (whitehouse.gov) provides bios, and there are more detailed lists on the U.S. News & World Report site and the Miller Center at UVA. These show the variety of schools attended by presidents—some went to state schools, military academies, or didn’t attend college at all.
If you’re interested in Harvard for its presidential legacy, you’re in good company! Harvard’s longstanding academic excellence and alumni network definitely add to its presidential history.
Luis Nario-Malberg
Mooresville, North Carolina
Harvard College, Class of 2018, A.B. in Philosophy
Experience
5 years