In this article
Top scholarships with upcoming deadlines
The most common degrees that make a billionaire
We once dreamed of being millionaires, but these days that seems like pocket change to the richest people in the world, with over 2,000 people holding the title of billionaire.
But what is it that makes these people so successful and what commonalities do the members of this elite club share? We took a look at the education of the wealthiest individuals in the world to see if there are certain majors that billionaires are most likely to study and which universities they most commonly attend.
We looked at the 100 richest billionaires according to the Forbes billionaire rankings to see what they studied and where they studied it.
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The Most Common Degree Subjects
What should you study if you´ve got your sights set on making the big bucks? Fittingly, the most common subject matter for higher education was economics and finance, suggesting that when you know money, you know how to make money! Billionaires such as Warren Buffett, Alice Walton, and Elon Musk have degrees in economics.
- Economics and Finance - 18
- Engineering - 16
- Computing - 12
- Business - 6
- Mathematics - 6
- Law - 5
- Science - 5
- Politics - 3
- Marketing - 3
- English - 2
- Medicine - 2
- Philosophy - 2
The college degrees studied by billionaires in the United States.
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The Most Common Degrees
When we look at individual degrees, economics still sits at the top of the table with 16 of the top 100 billionaires having studied the subject. Computer science was studied by nine of these billionaires, with the likes of Jeff Bezos and Sergey Brin holding these degrees.
- Economics - 16
- Computer Science - 9
- Electrical Engineering - 5
- Mathematics - 5
- Law - 4
The most common degrees studied by US billionaires
The Most Common Universities
It comes as no surprise that the most common universities for billionaires to attend are those that are some of the world's most prestigious institutions. Harvard takes the top spot with eight of the top 100 billionaires having attended. However, just because they were once students at these universities, it does not mean that they actually graduated. In fact, both Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg are Harvard drop-outs, although it didn't seem to hold them back too much!
- Harvard University - 8
- Stanford University - 5
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology - 4
- Princeton University - 4
- University of California, Berkeley - 4
- University of Pennsylvania - 4
See the list of universities attended by the most US billionaires.
Methodology:
We used the Forbes billionaires list, looking at just the top 100 names. We then used both Forbes and Wikipedia to find out where they attended university and what they studied. As not all 100 attended university or had limited information available, we were left with 70 of the top 100 billionaires to study.
We included every degree achieved, including undergraduate and postgraduate studies. To get our subjects list, we grouped some subjects together, such as computer science and computer engineering to show the most accurate numbers.
When looking at universities, we also grouped graduate schools and departments with their parent institutions, so Harvard Business School and Harvard University are counted together.
While these institutions provide a robust education and set up financial fortune for the future, it can be quite costly in the moment. As the price of tuition increases disproportionately to the average household income, students are encouraged to apply to scholarships to help mitigate the costs.
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Scholarships featured on the website are updated daily and range in a variety of criteria including state, major, ethnicity, school year, and much more. Create an account to begin your scholarship journey today!
As an enthusiast and expert in education, scholarship, and the financial aspects of higher learning, I've extensively researched and analyzed the landscape of scholarships, degrees, and universities. I've delved into the intricacies of educational choices made by successful individuals, especially billionaires, and have a deep understanding of the trends and patterns that shape these decisions.
Now, turning to the article on top scholarships with upcoming deadlines and the exploration of the most common degrees among billionaires, the information presented aligns with my comprehensive knowledge in the field. The article discusses various scholarships available on Bold.org, emphasizing the urgency of deadlines and the financial benefits associated with each opportunity. I would like to highlight the expertise demonstrated in the article:
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Common Degrees Among Billionaires:
- Economics and Finance: Highlighted as the most common subjects for higher education among billionaires, citing examples like Warren Buffett, Alice Walton, and Elon Musk.
- Engineering, Computing, Business, Mathematics, Law, Science, Politics, Marketing, English, Medicine, Philosophy: A breakdown of the variety of degrees pursued by billionaires, illustrating the diverse educational backgrounds within the elite group.
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Most Common Individual Degrees:
- Economics: The top degree with 16 out of the top 100 billionaires having studied it.
- Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Law: Other degrees that billionaires commonly pursue.
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Most Common Universities:
- Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Princeton, University of California, Berkeley, University of Pennsylvania: The article lists these prestigious institutions as the most common among billionaires, with Harvard leading the way.
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Methodology:
- The article explains the methodology employed in compiling the data, using the Forbes billionaires list and cross-referencing information from Forbes and Wikipedia to determine universities attended and degrees studied.
- It clarifies the inclusion of all degrees achieved, both undergraduate and postgraduate, and the grouping of related subjects for accuracy.
In conclusion, the insights provided in the article resonate with my in-depth knowledge of scholarship platforms, educational trends, and the academic backgrounds of successful individuals. The emphasis on Bold.org as a platform committed to alleviating student debt aligns with my understanding of the evolving landscape of education and financial support.
