The top degrees and requirements to be a president in the US, the world’s most powerful country

With the US presidential elections coming to a close, everyone is on the edge of their seats.

But have you ever wondered what you need to do to be a president?

Do you need to have a degree in political science? Is attending an Ivy League school a must? Do you need to be rich?

Well, we’ve got some answers lined up for you. 

While there’s no “President School” or “a Bachelor’s degree in Presidency,” there are a few essential requirements — and quite a bit of hard work to be a president. 

3 “basic” requirements you need to be a president

The requirements to be a president in the US are simple compared to other countries.  

The US Consitution states that the president must:

1. Be a natural-born citizen of the United States, meaning you’re either born on American soil or born abroad to American parents.
2. Be at least 35 years old
3. Have been a resident of the United States for 14 years

So, for international students in the US, this lofty title is probably out of your reach. 

But if you’re an American studying abroad, there’s hope for you yet. 

If you meet the requirements, you can officially declare your candidacy for president. Following that, you must raise or spend over US$5,000 in each of at least 20 states, totalling US$100,000 for your campaign.

After that, you must register with the Federal Election Commission. You’ll also need contributions from a minimum of 20 donors in each of the 20 states to qualify for primary matching funds.

Upon receiving your confirmation as a presidential candidate, you must agree to adhere to spending limits on your campaign, both nationally within each state, including limitations on personal funds contributions.

Do you need a degree to be a president?

Many jobs require a specific degree before you’re even considered for the role — but interestingly enough, there’s no specific educational requirement to become the president of the US.

George Washington, the first president of the US, did not pursue any college courses. However, he did earn a surveyor’s certificate. Meanwhile, Harry S. Truman, the 33rd president who served from 1945 to 1953, was the last president without a college degree.

Here is a list of presidents who did not receive a degree or attend university — most of whom served the US from 1817 to 1901. 

• James Monroe, the fifth president.
• Andrew Jackson, the seventh president.
• Martin Van Buren, the eighth president.
• William Henry Harrison, the ninth president.
• Zachary Taylor, the 12th president.
• Millard Fillmore, the 13th president.
• Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president.
• Andrew Johnson, the 17th president.
• Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th president.
• William McKinley, the 25th president.

But please, do not use them as a reason for not getting a degree.

Pursuing a degree is more than just a box to check if you are on becoming president — it’s for you to develop knowledge, skills, and connections that will make your journey smoother and more impactful.

Sure, you don’t need a degree to be president, but having one gives you a critical advantage in understanding world issues, solving problems, and making decisions that affect millions of lives.

Imagine studying political science and better understanding how the US and other world governments function. If your opponent has a business degree, you may have leverage over them.

University is also a crash course in public life.

From learning how to manage group projects to handling criticism from professors, your time there will train you to lead, listen, and adapt. After all, being president is about listening and leading the people of the nation, and there’s no better way to learn it than through college.

Oh, when it comes to choosing a university, don’t stress about it — there are no requirements for you to attend an Ivy League.

Reason to not become president

The journey to becoming a president is long and treacherous, often requiring years of preparation and dedication. 

Political candidates typically spend decades building their careers, establishing credibility, and gaining public support. You’ll often see them moving from local offices to higher state and national roles, each requiring intense campaigning, public appearances, and constant media scrutiny.

If you’re not prepared for that level of commitment, becoming a president may be out of reach for you.

Personal safety is another major concern.

US presidents are the highest-profile figures locally and globally, making them targets for severe threats. Several presidents have lost their lives while on the clock.

Barack Obama completed his presidency seven years ago but is still being protected by the Secret Service and will be for a lifetime. All previous presidents are to be protected according to Public Law 89-186 unless they decline protection.

If you aren’t afraid of what may come when you’re president, you can check out where and what past US presidents have studied, and you can join those universities and make them your alumni.

Where and what 10 past presidents of the US studied

1. John Adams

College education was rare in 18th-century British America, and John Adams was one of the few privileged individuals to attend an institution of higher education. 

In 1751, at just 15, Adams attended Harvard College to study theology, mathematics, and natural science. He completed his studies in 1755 and went on to teach. Displeased with his career choice, he began training as a lawyer run by a Worcester attorney, James Putnam.

42 years later, Adams went on to serve as the second president of the US.

2. James Madison

Founding Father James Madison pursued his higher education at 18 at the College of New Jersey, now Princeton University, in classical languages, maths, rhetoric, geography, philosophy, Hebrew, and political philosophy. 

Madison completed his four-year programme in two years and later self-studied public law. 

In 1808, he was elected president for two terms and crafted the Constitution of the US alongside Alexander Hamilton and John Jay.  

 

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3. William Henry Harrison

William Henry Harrison, the US president with the shortest term, was initially home-schooled before enrolling in Hampden-Sydney College, where he studied classics from 1787 to 1790. 

After completing his studies, his father’s dream was for one of his children to pursue medicine. Harrison reluctantly enrolled in medical school at the University of Richmond. However, he dropped out after learning about his father’s death, as he had no interest in the field.

Harrison later became the 9th US president, serving only 30 days, 12 hours, and 30 minutes in 1841 before his unfortunate passing. 

4. Woodrow Wilson

Known as the leader of the Progressive Movement, Woodrow Wilson began his academic journey at the College of New Jersey, now Princeton, in 1875 for his undergraduate degree.

Although the specifics of his degree are unknown, Wilson took his first step into politics by publishing an essay comparing the American government with the British parliamentary system.

After graduating, Wilson attended law school at the University of Virginia and practised law in Atlanta for several years. In 1883, he shifted his focus from law, pursuing a PhD in Political Science at Johns Hopkins University, making him the first president to hold a doctoral degree.

Wilson later became the 13th president of Princeton University and the 28th president of the US, passing several acts and leading the country through World War I. 

5. Herbert Hoover

Famously known as “The Great Humanitarian,” Herbert Hoover initially left school to work as a clerk. Three years later, he decided to pursue a career as a mining engineer. He enrolled at Stanford University when it opened in 1891 to pursue a degree in geology.

Upon graduation, Hoover spent a few years in Australia as a mining engineer. He later moved to China as a consulting engineer for the local government.

Later on, while celebrating his birthday in London, Germany declared war on France and Hoover was appointed to save American tourists. With his success, he was appointed as Head of Food Administration. This eventually led to his presidency as the 31st US president in 1929.

6. Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt, known as FDR and the longest-serving US president, attended Harvard University at the age of 18 and received a BA in History in just three years. 

Upon graduating, he pursued a law degree at Columbia University. However, while at Columbia and still pursuing his studies, Roosevelt chose to take the New York State Bar Examination. He passed on his second attempt before even receiving his degree.

Roosevelt left Columbia University to practice law in New York City. In 1933, Roosevelt became the 32nd president up till 1945, serving a total of 12 years. He led the US through two of the greatest crises the country has faced, the Great Depression and World War II.

 

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7. John F. Kennedy

In 1935, at the age of 18, John F. Kennedy enrolled himself at Princeton to pursue an undergraduate degree but withdrew due to a case of yellow jaundice — a condition that causes yellowing of the skin and eyes.

Following in the footsteps of his elder brother, Joseph Patrick Kennedy Junior, he later registered for the London School of Economics and Political Science’s general course in 1935, but he never actually became a student.

A year later, Kennedy attended Harvard University and graduated cum laude in 1940 with a BA in Government with a concentration in International Affairs. After graduation, he enrolled at the Stanford Graduate School of Business but left after a semester.

Kennedy later became the 35th president of the US at just 43.

8. William J. Clinton

Before becoming the first Democratic president since FDR, William J. Clinton, also known as Bill Clinton, began his academic journey at Georgetown University, graduating with a BS in Foreign Service.

Upon graduating, he received a Rhodes Scholarship at the University of Oxford to pursue a BPhil in Politics for two years. 

Clinton attended Yale University after returning to the US and received a law degree. He then taught law at the University of Arkansas before entering politics.

Clinton became the 42nd president of the US in 1993, with his term ending in 2001.

9. George W. Bush

Born and raised in Texas, George W. Bush flew halfway across the country to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in History at Yale University. He returned to Texas to serve as a fighter pilot in the Texas Air National Guard for six years.

Bush then attended Harvard University to pursue a Master of Business Administration. He moved back to Texas and began a career in the oil and gas business. He was later elected governor of Texas. 

In 2001, Bush was elected as the 43rd president of the US.

10. Joseph Robinette Biden Jr.

Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., better known as Joe Biden, graduated from the University of Delaware with a double major in history and political science in 1965. A year later, he married Neila Hunter, which led him to move to New York and pursue a law degree from Syracuse University.

After graduating, Biden became the fifth youngest US senator at 29, and he is now the oldest president to be elected, at the age of 78.