which president had a phd degree

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Who Is The Only U.S. President To Have A PhD Degree?

Updated: December 25, 2023

Published: November 17, 2019

While many people assume that every U.S. president must have a Ph.D. degree, believe it or not, there is only one U.S. president with a Ph.D. Some U.S. presidents never even went to college, while others earned other kinds of advanced degrees. So who is the only U.S. president to have a PhD degree?

The Top 10 U.S. Presidents to Earn the Best Education

While most American presidents were well-educated, not all of them went to school, surprisingly. They all had very different views on education, but all held the knowledge to take on their presidential responsibilities. The presidents to have received the best education may in fact surprise you.

In no chronological order, the presidents with the highest recognized degrees are Woodrow Wilson, William Howard Taft, Franklin Pierce, Rutherford B. Hayes, Bill Clinton, Gerald Ford, George W. Bush, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, and Barack Obama.

Who is The Only U.S. President To Hold A PhD?

Woodrow Wilson is known as one of the nation’s greatest presidents and is the only U.S. president to hold a Ph.D. degree.

Wilson was the 28th U.S. president and served in office from 1913 to 1921. He also held the position of president at Princeton University before becoming U.S. president and obtained his doctorate degree in 1886 from Johns Hopkins University in Political Science.

Surprisingly, Wilson was reported to have struggled with reading in school and only learned how to read at the age of 10. He was believed to possibly have been dyslexic. Woodrow Wilson is living proof that academic struggles don’t have to stop you from achieving your goals, as he went from being a struggling student to becoming the only American president with a Ph.D.!

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The top 10 colleges that produced the most presidents.

While Woodrow is the only U.S. president with a Ph.D. degree, many other presidents also have prestigious degrees from a variety of top universities.

The university to claim the most U.S. presidents as alumni is Harvard University with eight presidents that graduated from the institution, including Barack Obama, George Bush, John F. Kennedy, both Roosevelts, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, and Rutherford Hayes.

The runner-ups for the university to claim the most presidential alumni are Yale University with 5 presidents, College of William and Mary with 3 U.S. presidents, and Princeton University with 2 presidents, including Woodrow Wilson.

Which U.S. Presidents Never Earned a Degree?

Since holding a Ph.D. degree is not a requirement to be president, many never even attended college and held no degree. This did not affect their success as they became president of the United States.

There are 9 U.S. presidents reported to have never attended college , including George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, Grover Cleveland, and Harry Truman.

What Other Advanced Degrees Do Past U.S. Presidents Hold?

A PhD is not the only advanced degree out there and is not a requirement to be elected as president. There are many other highly educated U.S. presidents, such as Bill Clinton who holds a Master’s degree in Law from Yale. Richard Nixon holds a Master’s degree in Law from Duke University, George Bush has an MBA from Harvard, Barack Obama has a Master’s in Law from Harvard, and John F. Kennedy has a bachelor’s degree in science from Harvard University.

Image by Dickson Donatus from Pixabay

What lessons can we take from these presidents.

Seeing that there is only one U.S. president with a Ph.D., there are many lessons to be taken from our presidents. These U.S. presidents who never attended college knew that their education was limited, with some that only had a mere year of formal schooling.

They each chose on their own to take their education beyond the classroom and study without going to traditional school, through books, external expert sources, and mentors that they trusted.

These U.S. presidents have proven that education does not always have to take place in a classroom setting, and that practical life experience and a desire to learn can be just as good. Those presidents who obtained degrees other than PhDs knew that it was sufficient for what they wanted to accomplish.

Does This Mean You Shouldn’t Get A PhD?

Obtaining such a degree is a personal choice, and depends on a wide variety of factors. A PhD is the highest possible degree and comes with many advantages. As presidents have shown, however, it’s not a requirement for success.

Woodrow Wilson, who is the only U.S. president to have a Ph.D. degree, probably would have been elected with or without his degree. Other advanced degrees that are less expensive and time-consuming can also take you very far. Times are changing, and traditional schooling is no longer the only way.

There are many more realistic and affordable ways nowadays to obtain an accredited degree. The University of the People, for example, is a tuition-free , online university that allows people from all over the world to study at their own pace, from the comfort of their homes. This provides students with the chance to balance work and family obligations at the same time.

Maybe down the line, we’ll see a University of the People student become president — certainly anything is possible!

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1. Choose a degree level

2. choose a category, 3. choose a subject, 10 us presidents with the highest recognized degrees.

American presidents may have had different views on education, but they all agreed that it served as an engine for change. John F. Kennedy said “ The goal of education is the advancement of knowledge and the dissemination of truth .” His predecessor, Theodore Roosevelt had a more cynical view: “ A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad .

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Were all American presidents educated? Yes. Did all of them go to school? Surprisingly the answer is No. But they were all knowledgeable enough to know the responsibilities that came with the job.

Some of the most literate American presidents of all time may surprise you.

Please note the following list is in no chronological order.

1. Woodrow Wilson

2. william howard taft, 3. franklin pierce, 4. rutherford b. hayes, 5. bill clinton, 6. gerald ford, 7. george w. bush, 8. john f. kennedy, 9. richard nixon, 10. barack obama.

Do you think if they had majored in a different degree, their career paths and tenure as Presidents would have been different? Let us know what you think.

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U.S. Presidents with College Education: From Learners to Leaders

By Grant Tilus on 04/24/2013

Earning a college degree is not a requirement to become America’s commander-in-chief, but history tells us that the vast majority U.S. Presidents valued a college education.

Throughout history 34 out of 44 presidents earned at least a college degree – and 32 percent of those earned an advanced degree.

But did education contribute to their leadership ability?

Consider what President John F. Kennedy once said : “Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation.”

We live in a nation where we have the opportunity to gain an advanced education to better our lives. By choosing to invest in your education you have the ability to create positive changes in your life, your career and one day, maybe even your nation.

Below is a list of U.S. presidents and the college education they received, including the schools they attended and the academic degrees they received. These leaders helped shape the future for our nation. Perhaps their academic achievements will inspire you to become a leader in the future.

An Ordered List of our President’s College Education

1. george washington, 1789 - 1797.

College Attended: College of William and Mary Degree Earned: Surveyor's License

2. John Adams, 1797 - 1801

College Attended: Harvard University Degrees Earned: Bachelor’s degree; Master’s degree

3. Thomas Jefferson, 1801 - 1809

College Attended: College of William and Mary Degree Earned: Bachelor’s degree

4. James Madison, 1809 - 1817

College Attended: Princeton University Degree Earned: Bachelor’s degree

5. James Monroe, 1817 - 1825

6. john quincy adams, 1825 - 1829.

7. Andrew Jackson, 1829 - 1837

College Attended: None

8. Martin Van Buren, 1837 - 1841

9. william henry harrison, 1841.

Colleges Attended: Hampden-Sydney College ; University of Pennsylvania Degree Earned: Did not graduate

10. John Tyler, 1841 - 1845

11. james k. polk, 1845 - 1849.

College Attended: University of North Carolina Degree Earned: Bachelor’s degree

12. Zachary Taylor, 1849 - 1850

13. millard fillmore, 1850 - 1853, 14. franklin pierce, 1853 - 1857.

College Attended: Bowdoin College Degree Earned: Bachelor’s degree

15. James Buchanan, 1857 - 1861

College Attended: Dickinson College Degree Earned: Bachelor’s degree

16. Abraham Lincoln, 1861 - 1865

17. Andrew Johnson, 1865 - 1869

18. ulysses s. grant, 1869 - 1877.

College Attended: U.S. Military Academy Degree Earned: Graduate

19. Rutherford B. Hayes, 1877 - 1881

Colleges Attended: Kenyon College ; Harvard Law School Degrees Earned: Bachelor’s degree; Bachelor of Laws

20. James A. Garfield, 1881

College Attended: Williams College Degree Earned: Bachelor’s degree

21. Chester A. Arthur, 1881 - 1885

Colleges Attended: Union College ; State and National Law School Degrees Earned: Bachelor’s degree; did not graduate

22. Grover Cleveland, 1885 - 1889

23. benjamin harrison, 1889 - 1893.

College Attended: Miami University Degree Earned: Bachelor’s degree

24. Grover Cleveland, 1893 - 1897

See #22, only president to serve two non-consecutive terms .

25. William McKinley, 1897 - 1901

Colleges Attended: Allegheny College ; Albany Law School Degrees Earned: Did not graduate; Bachelor of Laws

26. Theodore Roosevelt, 1901 - 1909

College Attended: Harvard University Degree Earned: Bachelor’s degree

27. William Howard Taft, 1909 - 1913

Colleges Attended: Yale University ; University of Cincinnati College of Law Degrees Earned: Bachelor’s degree; Bachelor of Laws

28. Woodrow Wilson, 1913 - 1921

Colleges Attended: Princeton University ; Johns Hopkins University Degrees Earned: Bachelor’s degree; Doctoral degree

29. Warren G. Harding, 1921 - 1923

College Attended: Ohio Central College Degree Earned: Bachelor’s degree

30. Calvin Coolidge, 1923 - 1929

College Attended: Amherst College Degree Earned: Bachelor’s degree

31. Herbert Hoover, 1929 - 1933

College Attended: Stanford University Degree Earned: Bachelor’s degree

32. Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1933 - 1945 Franklin D. Roosevelt

33. Harry S. Truman, 1945 - 1953

Colleges Attended: Spalding’s Commercial College; University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law Degree Earned: Did not graduate

34. Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953 - 1961

35. john f. kennedy, 1961 - 1963, 36. lyndon b. johnson, 1963 - 1969.

College Attended: Texas State University-San Marcos Degree Earned: Bachelor’s degree

37. Richard Nixon, 1969 - 1974

Colleges Attended: Whittier College ; Duke University School of Law Degrees Earned: Bachelor’s degree; Bachelor of Laws

38. Gerald Ford, 1974 - 1977

Colleges Attended: University of Michigan ; Yale Law School Degrees Earned: Bachelor’s degree; Bachelor of Laws

39. Jimmy Carter, 1977 - 1981

College Attended: U. S. Naval Academy Degree Earned: Graduate

40. Ronald Reagan, 1981 - 1989

College Attended: Eureka College Degree Earned: Bachelor’s degree

41. George H. W. Bush, 1989 - 1993

College Attended: Yale University Degree Earned: Bachelor’s degree

42. Bill Clinton, 1993 - 2001

Colleges Attended: Georgetown University ; Yale Law School Degrees Earned: Bachelor’s degree; Juris Doctor

43. George W. Bush, 2001 - 2009

Colleges Attended: Yale University ; Harvard Business School Degrees Earned: Bachelor’s degree; Master’s degree

44. Barack Obama, 2009 - Present

Colleges Attended: Columbia University ; Harvard Law School Degrees Earned: Bachelor’s degree; Juris Doctor

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Grant Tilus

Grant works for Collegis Education and writes student-focused articles on behalf of Rasmussen University. He aims to inspire, motivate and inform current and prospective students.

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The Reagan Library Education Blog

Presidential Firsts! Presidential Pioneers in Education?

Today’s post comes from Reagan Library Education Department staffer Brett Robert

Every year the Reagan Library offers the Film This! summer program for high school students.  Over the course of a week students shoot and edit original documentary films.  This year’s theme for Film This is “Presidential Firsts,” to register for this year’s program, click here  for more information or copy and paste the following link into your browser:  https://reaganlibrary.gov/curriculum/2013-10-22-21-09-35

So what are some notable Presidential Firsts?  Each of our nation’s 44 Presidents have led interesting and noteworthy lives.  As this is an education blog, today we’ll be looking at our Presidents’ educational achievements.

John Adams, our nation’s second President from 1797-1801, was the first President to graduate from college, earning a Bachelor’s degree in 1755 from Harvard University.  He went on to study law, in what was the usual method at the time, as an apprentice under lawyer James Putnam.  Although he was the first attorney to serve as President of the United States, he did not attend law school. Read more about John Adams and his education at the Massachusetts Historical Society here.

In some ways Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States from 1869-1877, was made by his experiences at the United States Military Academy, also known as West Point .  Named Hiram Ulysses Grant at birth, the young future President began going by Ulysses S. Grant when he arrived at West Point and found that “Hiram” was nowhere to be found on their rolls, but “U.S. Grant” was registered.  Only two United States Presidents have attended West Point, with President Dwight Eisenhower having graduated from the nation’s first military academy in 1915, 72 years after Grant’s 1843 graduation.   PBS has a nice biography of Ulysses S. Grant here.

In the grand tradition of the rivalry between the academies, the United States Naval Academy has also produced its own President of the United States.  Our 39th President, Jimmy Carter, is often famously remembered as a peanut farmer.  While President Carter did in fact spend years of his life farming, as had his father before him, as a young man he spent a decade in service in the United States Navy.  His Navy career began as a midshipman at the Academy in Annapolis, but Mr. Carter had begun his studies at Georgia Southwestern College and continued them at the Georgia Institute of Technology in order to qualify for the Academy.  In 1946 the future Commander-in-Chief graduated with a bachelor’s of science degree.  In the Navy his formidable intellectual skills led to his appointment in the early nuclear submarine program.   The United States Naval Academy proudly lists Mr. Carter as an alumnus and provides a biography on its official site .   Another excellent biography of Jimmy Carter can be found at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library’s  website.

Several Presidents have obtained advanced degrees, but many may find it surprising that only very recently has a President with a M.B.A., Masters of Business Administration, degree served.  Our nation’s 43rd President serving as President from 2001-2009, George W. Bush studied history as an undergraduate at Yale, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1968.  He then served as a fighter pilot in the Air National Guard for several years, but went back to school in the early seventies to pursue his M.B.A. at Harvard University.  In 1975 Mr. Bush graduated from his master’s program and began working in the Texas oil industry.  In 1977 he put his studies to the test and established his own company, Arbusto Energy.   To read more about George W. Bush’s life, education, and political career, click here to see his biography at the George W. Bush Presidential Library.

Mr. Bush’s successor, Barack Obama , also earned a post-graduate degree from Harvard University.  Our current President since 2009, Mr. Obama, graduated from Harvard Law School in 1991, but he was not the first President of the United States to graduate from Harvard Law.  That honor, as well as the honor of being the first President to have earned a law degree, went to Rutherford B. Hayes .  Mr. Hayes graduated from Harvard Law in 1845, making him the first United States President to have graduated from Law School.  Rutherford Hayes went on to serve as the 19th President of the United States from 1877-1881, succeeding Ulysses S. Grant.   Franklin Pierce , the nation’s 14th President from  was the first President to attend law school, though he did not earn a degree after briefly attending Northampton Law School in Massachusetts for a semester.

Only one United States President has earned a Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D., degree.  Woodrow Wilson, the nation’s 28th President from 1913-1921, had the most extensive academic career of any United States President.  Not only did he graduate from Johns Hopkins University with a Ph.D. in History and Political Science in 1886, but Dr. Wilson later served as the President of Princeton University, where he had completed his undergrauate studies.  Dr. Wilson’s dissertation was titled  Congressional Government,  completed in 1885, and discussed the structure of government in the United States.  To learn more about President Wilson see the biography at the Miller Center at the University of Virginia , or the biography at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum.

Still interested in more about the education of our Presidents?  Here are some additional resources: School House to White House: Education of the Presidents – National Archives The Miller Center at the University of Virginia  – “The Miller Center is a nonpartisan institute that seeks to expand understanding of the presidency, policy, and political history, providing critical insights for the nation’s governance challenges.” Presidential Libraries and Museums  – a list of the National Archives and Records Administation’s Presidential Libraries and Museums The Presidents at whitehouse.gov

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Woodrow Wilson

By: History.com Editors

Updated: June 6, 2019 | Original: October 29, 2009

Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924), the 28th U.S. president, served in office from 1913 to 1921 and led America through World War I (1914-1918). Remembered as an advocate for democracy, progressivism and world peace, Wilson left a complex legacy that included re-segregating many branches of the federal workforce. 

Wilson was a college professor, university president and Democratic governor of New Jersey before winning the White House in 1912. Once in office, he pursued an ambitious agenda of progressive reform that included the establishment of the Federal Reserve and Federal Trade Commission. Wilson tried to keep the United States neutral during World War I but ultimately called on Congress to declare war on Germany in 1917. After the war, he helped negotiate a peace treaty that included a plan for the League of Nations. Although the Senate rejected U.S. membership in the League, Wilson received the Nobel Prize for his peacemaking efforts.

Woodrow Wilson’s Early Years

Thomas Woodrow Wilson was born on December 28, 1856, in Staunton, Virginia . (Because his mother said he arrived around midnight, some sources list Wilson’s birthday as December 29.) His father, Joseph Ruggles Wilson (1822-1903), was a Presbyterian minister, and his mother, Janet Woodrow Wilson (1826-1888), was a minister’s daughter and originally from England. Tommy Wilson, as he was called growing up, spent his childhood and teen years in Augusta, Georgia , and Columbia, South Carolina . During the American Civil War (1861-1865), Wilson’s father served as a chaplain in the Confederate army and used his church as a hospital for injured Confederate troops.

Did you know? Woodrow Wilson, who had a career as an academic and university president before entering politics, did not learn to read until he was 10, likely due to dyslexia.

Wilson graduated from Princeton University (then called the College of New Jersey ) in 1879 and went on to attend law school at the University of Virginia. After briefly practicing law in Atlanta, Georgia, he received a Ph.D. in political science from Johns Hopkins University in 1886. (Wilson remains the only U.S. president to earn a doctorate degree.) He taught at Bryn Mawr College and Wesleyan College before being hired by Princeton in 1890 as a professor of jurisprudence and politics. From 1902 to 1910, Wilson was president of Princeton, where he developed a national reputation for his educational reform policies. 

During his tenure, however, he also prevented enrollment of Black students at the university. And in 1902, Wilson published a five-volume textbook, The History of the American People , which presented a romanticized view of the Confederacy and described the Ku Klux Klan, a violent terrorist group, as "roving knights-errant...an 'Invisible Empire of the South,' bound together in a loose organization to protect the Southern country of some of the ugliest hazards of a time of revolution." 

In 1885, Wilson married Ellen Axson (1860-1914), a minister’s daughter and Georgia native. The couple had three daughters before Ellen died of kidney disease in 1914, during her husband’s first presidential term. The following year, Wilson married Edith Bolling Galt (1872-1961), a widow whose husband had owned a Washington , D.C., jewelry business.

Woodrow Wilson’s Rise in Politics

In 1910, Woodrow Wilson was elected governor of New Jersey, where he fought machine politics and garnered national attention as a progressive reformer. In 1912, the Democrats nominated Wilson for president, selecting Thomas Marshall (1854-1925), the governor of Indiana , as his vice-presidential running mate. The Republican Party split over their choice for a presidential candidate: Conservative Republicans re-nominated President William Taft (1857-1930), while the progressive wing broke off to form the Progressive (or Bull Moose) Party and nominated Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), who had served as president from 1901 to 1909.

With the Republicans divided, Wilson, who campaigned on a platform of liberal reform, won 435 electoral votes, compared to 88 for Roosevelt and eight for Taft. He garnered nearly 42 percent of the popular vote; Roosevelt came in second place with more than 27 percent of the popular vote.

Woodrow Wilson’s First Administration

At the age of 56, Woodrow Wilson was sworn into office in March 1913. He was the last American president to travel to his inauguration ceremony in a horse-drawn carriage. Once in the White House , Wilson achieved significant progressive reform. Congress passed the Underwood-Simmons Act, which reduced the tariff on imports and imposed a new federal income tax. It also passed legislation establishing the Federal Reserve (which provides a system for regulating the nation’s banks, credit and money supply) and the Federal Trade Commission (which investigates and prohibits unfair business practices). Other accomplishments included child labor laws, an eight-hour day for railroad workers and government loans to farmers. Additionally, Wilson nominated the first Jewish person to the U.S. Supreme Court , Louis Brandeis (1856-1941), who was confirmed by the Senate in 1916.

Wilson's progressive agenda did not apply to all Americans, however. During his first term, he oversaw the re-segregation of many branches of the federal workforce,  including the Treasury, the Post Office, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the Navy, the Interior, the Marine Hospital, the War Department and the Government Printing Office. The action reversed hard-fought economic progress made by Black Americans since Reconstruction.

When World War I broke out in Europe in the summer of 1914, Wilson was determined to keep the United States out of the conflict. On May 7, 1915, a German submarine torpedoed and sank the British ocean liner Lusitania , killing more than 1,100 people (including 128 Americans). Wilson continued to maintain U.S. neutrality but warned Germany that any future sinkings would be viewed by America as “deliberately unfriendly.”

In 1916, Wilson and Vice President Marshall were re-nominated by the Democrats. The Republicans chose Supreme Court Justice Charles Evans Hughes (1862-1948) as their presidential candidate and Charles Fairbanks (1852-1918), the U.S. vice president under Theodore Roosevelt, as his running mate. Wilson, who campaigned on the slogan “He kept us out of war,” won with a narrow electoral margin of 277-254 and a little more than 49 percent of the popular vote.

Woodrow Wilson’s Second Administration: World War I

Woodrow Wilson’s second term in office was dominated by World War I. Although the president had advocated for peace during the initial years of the war, in early 1917 German submarines launched unrestricted submarine attacks against U.S. merchant ships. Around the same time, the United States learned about the Zimmerman Telegram, in which Germany tried to persuade Mexico to enter into an alliance against America. On April 2, 1917, Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany, stating, “The world must be made safe for democracy.”

America’s participation helped bring about victory for the Allies, and on November 11, 1918, an armistice was signed by the Germans. At the Paris Peace Conference, which opened in January 1919 and included the heads of the British, French and Italian governments, Wilson helped negotiate the Treaty of Versailles . The agreement included the charter for the League of Nations , an organization intended to arbitrate international disputes and prevent future wars. Wilson had initially advanced the idea for the League in a January 1918 speech to the U.S. Congress in which he outlined his “ Fourteen Points ” for a postwar peace settlement.

When Wilson returned from Europe in the summer of 1919, he encountered opposition to the Versailles treaty from isolationist Republicans in Congress who feared the League could limit America’s autonomy and draw the country into another war. In September of that year, the president embarked on a cross-country speaking tour to promote his ideas for the League directly to the American people. 

On the night of September 25, on a train bound for Wichita, Kansas , Wilson collapsed from mental and physical stress, and the rest of his tour was canceled. On October 2, he suffered a stroke that left him partially paralyzed. Wilson’s condition was kept largely hidden from the public, and his wife worked behind the scenes to fulfill a number of his administrative duties.

The Senate voted on the Treaty of Versailles first in November 1919 and again in March 1920. Both times it failed to gain the two-thirds vote required for ratification. The treaty’s defeat was partly blamed on Wilson’s refusal to compromise with the Republicans. The League of Nations held its first meeting in January 1920; the United States never joined the organization. However, in December 1920, Wilson received the 1919 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to include the Covenant of the League of Nations in the Treaty of Versailles.

Woodrow Wilson’s Second Administration: Domestic Issues

Woodrow Wilson’s second administration saw the passage of two significant constitutional amendments. The era of Prohibition was ushered in on January 17, 1920, when the 18th Amendment, banning the manufacture, sale and transportation of alcohol, went into effect following its ratification one year earlier. In 1919, Wilson vetoed the National Prohibition Act (or Volstead Act), designed to enforce the 18th Amendment; however, his veto was overridden by Congress. Prohibition lasted until 1933, when it was repealed by the 21st Amendment.

Also in 1920, American women gained the right to vote when the 19th Amendment became law that August; Wilson had pushed Congress to pass the amendment. That year’s presidential election–the first in which women from every state were allowed to vote–resulted in a victory for Republican Warren Harding (1865-1923), a congressman from Ohio who opposed the League of Nations and campaigned for a “return to normalcy” after Wilson’s tenure in the White House.

Woodrow Wilson’s Final Years

After leaving office in March 1921, Woodrow Wilson resided in Washington, D.C. He and a partner established a law firm, but poor health prevented the president from ever doing any serious work. Wilson died at his home on February 3, 1924, at age 67. He was buried in the Washington National Cathedral, the only president to be interred in the nation’s capital.

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Which U.S. presidents didn’t earn a college degree? (Two of them are on Mount Rushmore)

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is apparently considering whether he should mount a campaign for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 but, as this story by my Post colleague David Fahrenthold says, there are questions about whether it will matter to voters that he didn’t earn a college degree. Walker attended Marquette University, but he dropped out in his senior year without earning a degree.

It’s not uncommon in Silicon Valley for entrepreneurs to reach the top without a college degree, but the U.S. presidency is a different story. Most presidents have had at least a bachelor’s degree — all since 1953 have done so — but you may be surprised at which ones never earned a college diploma.

First on the list is George Washington, who vies with Abraham Lincoln as being the greatest president in U.S. history. Washington earned a surveyor’s license at the College of William & Mary in Virginia but not a bachelor’s degree. And Lincoln didn’t attend college at all. Yet both are etched onto Mount Rushmore, a tribute to our greatest presidents.

Other presidents who never attended college were Andrew Jackson (1829-1837), Martin Van Buren (1837-1841), Zachary Taylor (1849-1850), Millard Fillmore (1850-1853), Andrew Johnson (1865-1869) and Grover Cleveland (1885-1889 and 1893-1897, the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms).

Four other presidents enrolled in college but did not complete a degree, including Harry S. Truman, who is often said to have never attended college, though he actually spent a semester at a business college in Kansas City before dropping out to get a job and later attended some night classes at the University of Missouri’s Kansas City law school. James Monroe enrolled in the College of William & Mary but stayed only a short while and then joined the Continental Army (there are buildings named after him at at least four universities). William Henry Harrison (who died on his 32nd day in office in 1841), started at the University of Pennsylvania studying medicine but never graduated. And William McKinley (1897-1901) attended Allegheny College for only a year; he later attended Albany Law School but was admitted to the bar without earning a degree.

Only one president, Woodrow Wilson, had a doctorate (1913-1921), and, in fact, was president of Princeton University before becoming U.S. president.

A number of presidents have law degrees, including President Obama (2009-present) and Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881), both from Harvard; and Gerald Ford (1974-1977) and Bill Clinton (1993-2001), both from Yale. Two presidents, Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909), and his cousin, Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945), both attended Columbia law school, both withdrew, and both were posthumously awarded degrees in 2008.

As for the other two presidents on Mount Rushmore, Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809) earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of William & Mary and later founded the University of Virginia, and Theodore Roosevelt earned a bachelor’s degree at Harvard.

(Fixing typos in dates of Teddy Roosevelt presidential administrations)

The Influence of Presidents with PhD Degrees on American Politics

Exploring the impact of presidents with phd degrees on us policies..

President Richard Bailey joined SOU in January 2022. He previously completed a 24-year career in the US Air Force retiring as a full colonel. President Bailey's academic achievements include earning a PhD degree in Political Science from Harvard University. With his extensive military and academic background, he brings a unique perspective to the White House.

For Ben Vinson III, serving as Howard's 18th president ties his academic passions in the African and Latin American diaspora with the responsibilities of leading a prestigious institution. As a historian with a PhD degree, President Vinson brings a deep understanding of the historical context to his decision-making process.

Trump can be called 'Dr. Trump' if Jill Biden is 'Dr. Biden,' TV personality Charly Arnolt said on Fox News show 'Gutfeld!' This statement sparked a debate about the significance of academic titles for presidents. While some argue that a PhD degree does not necessarily make a better president, others believe that it brings a unique perspective and expertise to the table.

Presidential priorities include engagement with early career nutrition professionals, elevating ASN's four journals, and strengthening collaborations with other organizations. President Biden, with his PhD degree in Nutritional Sciences, understands the importance of evidence-based policies and strives to promote advancements in the field.

Kennedy and Biden, and the Challenges of Being a Catholic President in the US. This article explores the experiences of Catholic presidents in the United States, including their academic backgrounds. Both Kennedy and Biden held law degrees, showcasing the diverse educational paths that presidents can take.

President Joe Biden presented OHSU ophthalmologist David Huang, M.D., Ph.D., with an award for his contributions to medical research. This recognition highlights the involvement of presidents in honoring individuals who have made significant contributions to their respective fields of expertise.

As she looks back on her 40-plus year career, what surprises Nancy Cox, PhD, an internationally known geneticist at Vanderbilt University. This statement emphasizes the long and successful careers that some individuals with PhD degrees have before entering the political realm.

At a time when the idea of practical artificial intelligence systems seemed more like science fiction than reality, Dr. Venu Govindaraju led a team of researchers that revolutionized the field. His expertise in artificial intelligence, combined with his role as a presidential advisor, shaped policies and initiatives that have contributed to advancements in technology.

Woodrow Wilson, a leader of the Progressive Movement, was the 28th President of the United States (1913-1921). After a policy of neutrality at the outbreak of World War I, Wilson led America into war in order to "make the world safe for democracy." While Wilson did not hold a PhD degree, his academic background as a historian influenced his approach to foreign policy.

Presidents with PhD degrees have the potential to bring a unique perspective and expertise to the White House. Their academic backgrounds can shape their priorities and decision-making processes, leading to policies that are supported by evidence and research. However, it is important to recognize that a PhD degree does not guarantee effective leadership, as other skills and qualities are equally important in presidential roles. Nonetheless, the presence of presidents with PhD degrees highlights the diverse educational paths and experiences that individuals can bring to the highest office in the United States.

PhD in Higher Education – Educational Leadership Degree Shaping Organizations for Success

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Become an Authority in Academia with Liberty’s Online PhD in Higher Education Administration – Educational Leadership Degree Online

If you’re interested in pursuing a research-based career or opportunities in academia, Liberty University’s 100% online Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Higher Education Administration – Educational Leadership may be a great fit for you. Our higher education PhD online has been designed with your success in mind. Whether you’d like to become a department chair, the dean of a school, provost, or university president, our online doctorate in higher education administration can help you reach your career goals.

As of October 2020, 61.8% of high school graduates between the ages of 16 and 24 were enrolled at a college or university.* This statistic speaks to the importance of qualified higher education administrators. Millions of young Americans attend college in hopes of earning an education, boosting their earning potential, increasing their employability, and forging lifelong connections.

As a higher education administrator, you’ll play a crucial role in building and maintaining a university setting that students want to attend. The role of a university administrator isn’t just about negotiating with accrediting partners or providing feedback to department chairs — it’s about ensuring that the future of the world is in good hands.

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, at College Enrollment and Work Activity of Recent High School and College Graduates Summary (viewed online Dec. 2, 2022).

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Maybe you’ve always wanted to work in an academic setting, or perhaps you already do. Either way, there are numerous job opportunities available in academia. Liberty’s educational leadership and higher education PhD online could be your ticket to a well-paying career in student services, academics, faculty research, or higher education administration.

We recognize that your personal responsibilities don’t stop when you enroll in a degree program, which is why our doctorate in higher education online is offered 100% online in mostly 8-week courses with no required intensives. That way, you won’t have to worry about traveling to campus for classes or spend time away from your job, family, or community.

What Will You Study in Our PhD in Higher Education – Educational Leadership Degree Online?

In our PhD in Higher Education Administration – Educational Leadership, you can learn about teaching the college student, college and university administration, historical perspectives of higher education, and the economic impact of higher education. You will also study the specifics of accreditation.

In the educational leadership specialization, you’ll study issues and trends in technology and learning as well as policy analysis. You’ll also be able to choose between two courses: organizational analysis and problem-solving for educators, or conflict resolution. Our educational leadership cognate is rounded out by an elective course, which allows you to study a topic you’re most passionate about.

Upon completion of your core courses, you’ll begin to venture into dissertation preparation. The research courses in our online doctor of higher education include advanced educational statistics, quantitative and qualitative methods of research, and a dissertation literature review. You will also study research concepts and methodology as part of your research courses.

And finally, the dissertation portion of your degree will consist of multiple courses. Through these courses, you will choose a topic, research your topic, and present your findings to our School of Education faculty.

Potential Career Opportunities

• College/university administrator
• Curriculum specialist
• Educational consultant
• Program coordinator
• Student affairs director

Featured Courses

• EDUC 758 – Teaching the College Student
• EDUC 759 – College and University Administration
• EDUC 782 – Historical Perspectives of Higher Education
• EDUC 784 – Assessment and Accreditation

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• Most of our PhD courses are offered in an 8-week format; however, the dissertation courses are full-semester in length.

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• A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required) .
• Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited master’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing.
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If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:

• Be in your final term and planning to start your doctoral degree after the last day of class for your master’s degree.
• Complete a Master’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
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• Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new doctoral degree.

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We want to help you find the doctoral degree you want – at a price you’ve earned. As a thank-you for your military service, Liberty University offers eligible current and former service members like you or your spouse multiple pathways to earn a doctoral degree for only $300/credit hour . Find out how you can take advantage of this unique opportunity as you work toward your goal of reaching the pinnacle of your profession – for less.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the career potential look like for this field.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), postsecondary education administrators earned an average salary of $97,500 in 2020.** Demand for this career is expected to grow by 8% between 2020 and 2030, and the BLS projects that about 14,500 new postsecondary education administration positions will become available each year during the same time frame. If you’re interested in becoming a college administrator, our doctor of higher education is an excellent choice.

**Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, at Postsecondary Education Administrators (viewed online Sept. 29, 2021). Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.

What accreditation does Liberty University have?

Liberty University is accredited by SACSCOC , the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

What title can I use once I have earned this degree?

Upon successful completion of this degree program, you will have earned the title of “Doctor” – a title that commands respect in academic and business communities alike.

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'The world's fault': Zelenskyy speaks out amid Russian assault

ABC News spoke exclusively with the Ukrainian president.

KHARKIV, Ukraine -- The situation in Ukraine is so serious that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had to cancel a planned trip to Spain and come straight to Kharkiv -- the country’s second largest city, which is again in real danger from the Russian advance.

With exclusive access, ABC News joined Zelenskyy on a tour of a hospital in the city, with Zelenskyy, where he met soldiers injured in the northern defense, and presented them with medals of valor.

“It’s really important for me to be here,” he told us, as we walked the corridors.

In each ward, he stopped as an officer read out the names of each injured soldier. He approached each bed and presented them with a medal. But this was a very rushed visit. The president’s safety is always a concern, but this trip to Kharkiv was a risk and his team moved quickly around the building.

MORE: Putin shakes up cabinet, replacing defense minister as war in Ukraine grinds on: ANALYSIS

“The situation is very serious,” Zelenskyy said. “We cannot afford to lose Kharkiv.”

As he stood near the injured soldiers, he was very clear that the delay in U.S. aid has had a direct impact on the war, and the situation along the northeastern border. Hundreds had lost their lives or been wounded in the last few days, he said. Many were soldiers from this region, so it was important for him to be there, supporting them, he said.

Is it America’s fault, we asked him, what’s happening now in Kharkiv?

“It’s the world’s fault,” he replied. “They gave the opportunity for Putin to occupy. But now the world can help."

He’s always careful not to criticize the U.S. But this was a slightly more frank Zelenskyy than we usually see.

We asked how he felt the visit this week by Secretary of State Antony Blinken had gone. The U.S.'s top diplomat on Wednesday announced an additional $2 billion in aid, adding to the $60 billion promised in late April. Zelenskyy paused. I could sense his frustration.

MORE: Blinken promises US arms on the way, says allies won't leave Ukraine's side

“Dialogue is good,” he said. “But we need help now.”

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There’s a sense here, near the brutal fighting on the front line, that the visit wasn’t much more than a show of support.

“All we need are two Patriot systems,” he said. “Russia will not be able to occupy Kharkiv if we have those.”

I told him many Americans are worried about how much money is being spent on Ukraine. And in this election year it’s going to be an issue that American voters pay attention to.

“That money is not given to Ukraine,” he said. “It’s money spent in American factories, creating American jobs… And we are not just fighting for our freedom. If not Ukraine, it would be another country.”

After the president left, we returned to some of the soldiers he’d visited.

Maxim, who nearly died in Vovchansk on Wednesday, had his leg raised with three huge metal pins keeping it straight. These are the men protecting Kharkiv. He didn’t seem too bothered with his medal.

“It’s an honor,” he told me. “But I’d prefer to award this to the men who saved my life.”

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