When it comes to Donald Trump, the brand is usually "the best." The best buildings, the best deals, and, according to his own stump speeches, the best education. He hasn't just said he went to the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania; he's called it "super genius stuff" and hinted that he was the top of the heap.
But what do the actual records say? Honestly, it’s kinda complicated because the paper trail is buried under layers of legal threats and school silence.
If you’ve ever wondered why a billionaire is so protective of a report card from 1968, you're not alone. It's become a bit of a legend. Let's peel back the curtain on Trump's grades at Wharton and see what’s actually verified and what's just talk.
The "First in Class" Myth
For decades, the narrative was that Donald Trump graduated first in his class at Wharton. This wasn't just a rumor; it showed up in major profiles, including a 1973 piece in The New York Times.
But here’s the thing: it wasn't true.
When researchers and the student newspaper, The Daily Pennsylvanian, started digging into the 1968 commencement program, they found a very different story. The program lists 366 graduates. It also lists the honors: summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude.
Trump’s name? It’s there for the degree (a Bachelor of Science in Economics), but it’s nowhere to be found on the honors list. He didn't graduate with any academic distinction.
💡 You might also like: Van Jones Girlfriend: What Most People Get Wrong About His Love Life
The Dean’s List Mystery
Then there’s the Dean’s List. This is usually the top 15% of the class. In 1968, that meant the top 56 students. Again, Trump wasn't on it.
Basically, to be "first in your class" at an Ivy League school, you’d have to be on the Dean’s List. You’d definitely have an honors designation next to your name. Since he has neither, the "top of the class" claim is, well, factually dead on arrival.
Why We Don't Have the Transcript
You might think, "Just show us the GPA and end the debate."
Easier said than done.
Michael Cohen, Trump’s former "fixer," testified before Congress that his boss specifically told him to threaten his schools. We're talking letters sent to Fordham (where he spent his first two years) and Penn (Wharton) warning them of "damages and criminality" if his grades were ever leaked.
Schools generally don't release this stuff anyway because of privacy laws like FERPA. But the active effort to block them? That's what gets people talking. If you had a 4.0, you'd probably frame it and put it on a billboard.
The Professor Who Didn't Mince Words
If the grades are hidden, we have to look at what the people who were actually there say.
The most famous—and harshest—account comes from the late Dr. William T. Kelley. He taught marketing at Wharton for over 30 years. According to Frank DiPrima, a close friend of the professor, Kelley didn't hold back in private.
DiPrima has stated that Kelley told him "100 times over three decades" that "Donald Trump was the dumbest goddam student I ever had."
Now, that’s just one man’s opinion. Professors can be grumpy. But Kelley apparently found Trump arrogant, someone who came in thinking he already knew everything. That’s a tough mindset for a student.
What Classmates Remember
Most of his classmates? They don't remember him at all.
The Daily Pennsylvanian reached out to 269 of his former peers. Out of those who responded, 68 said they never even encountered him.
He didn't do extracurriculars. He didn't take a yearbook photo. He apparently headed back to New York City most weekends to work with his father's real estate business. He was a "commuter" student in a world of campus socialites.
📖 Related: Who is Kevin Costner dating? What most people get wrong about the Yellowstone star
Getting Into Wharton: The "Back Door" Theory
Wharton is incredibly hard to get into today—we’re talking a single-digit acceptance rate. In 1966, when Trump transferred from Fordham, things were different.
James Nolan, the admissions officer who interviewed him, told The Washington Post that the acceptance rate back then was closer to 40%.
He also mentioned that he got a call from Trump’s older brother, Fred Jr., asking for the interview as a favor. Nolan and Fred Jr. were best friends.
Nolan’s take on the interview? He wasn't struck by any "genius." He described the young Donald as "not very difficult" to admit at the time because of the much higher transfer acceptance rates.
The SAT Scandal Allegations
More recently, Mary Trump, the former president's niece, dropped a bombshell in her book. She alleged that Donald paid a friend named Joe Shapiro to take the SATs for him.
The theory is that his grades at Fordham weren't strong enough to make the jump to Wharton on their own, so he needed a "boosted" test score.
The White House called the claim "absurd" and "completely false." Wharton ethics professors actually petitioned the university to investigate, but Penn basically said too much time had passed to find real proof.
✨ Don't miss: Elizabeth Olsen Black Dress: Why the Marvel Star’s Style Actually Works
Sorting Fact from Fiction
So, what do we actually know about Trump's grades at Wharton? Let’s summarize the hard facts:
- Fact: He graduated with a B.S. in Economics in 1968.
- Fact: He did NOT graduate with honors (cum laude or higher).
- Fact: He was NOT on the 1968 Dean's List.
- Fact: He was a transfer student from Fordham University.
- Fact: His actual GPA remains private and protected by legal threats.
It’s unlikely we’ll ever see the actual numbers unless he decides to release them himself. Given the track record, don't hold your breath.
Actionable Takeaways for Researchers
If you're digging into this for a project or just out of curiosity, here's how to look at the evidence:
- Check the Archives: The University of Pennsylvania's digital archives (QuakerNet) and old commencement programs are the most reliable public records. They confirm his degree but debunk the "honors" claims.
- Differentiate "Wharton": Remember that Trump has an undergraduate degree. People often confuse this with an MBA. He does not have a Master’s from Wharton.
- Context Matters: Admission standards in the 1960s were significantly more relaxed than the hyper-competitive environment students face today. Comparing a 1966 admission to a 2026 admission is apples and oranges.
Whether he was a "super genius" or just a guy who spent more time on real estate deals than in the library is a debate that will probably never end. The graduation program, however, doesn't lie.