What degree did Donald Trump earn from the Wharton School and in what year?

1. What the records and mainstream profiles say — degree and year

Publicly available profiles and reference works consistently list Trump as receiving a Bachelor of Science in economics from Wharton and graduating in 1968; Wikipedia and contemporary reporting state he graduated in May 1968 with that undergraduate economics degree ^[1]. Local and national outlets likewise repeat “Wharton, 1968” as the basic credential Trump cites when touting his business bona fides ^{[2] [4]}.

2. How Trump has used the credential — repeated invocation and branding

Donald Trump has long invoked his Wharton degree as shorthand for business expertise, mentioning it dozens of times across campaigns and media appearances; the Daily Pennsylvanian noted frequent name‑dropping, and AP and other outlets document his habit of referencing “Wharton” as part of his public persona ^{[2] [4]}. Even in The Art of the Deal he balanced praise for the school with a claim that credentials aren’t everything, showing the degree’s rhetorical utility in his brand ^[4].

3. Disputed claims and missing details — what journalists flag

While the degree and year are widely reported, several pieces of reporting emphasize gaps and disputes: Philly Mag notes that Trump has guarded details of his academic performance and that Penn has been reticent to publicize records, which has given rise to speculation about class ranking and grades ^[2]. Fact‑checking pieces have also highlighted allegations and unanswered questions about how he was admitted and whether claims about being “first in his class” are supported by records ^{[2] [3]}.

4. Calls for consequences and academic reputational debates

Some commentators and alumni have argued Wharton should distance itself from Trump or even revoke honors; opinion pieces (for example in Poets&Quants) urged scrutiny or symbolic actions given political controversies, and some faculty at Penn publicly criticized Trump while urging institutional responses ^[5]. These arguments are editorial and advocacy positions rather than statements of academic fact about the degree itself ^[5].

5. What sources do not settle — class rank, grades, and admissions details

Available reporting makes clear that Trump’s diploma and graduation year are established, but current sources say Penn has not publicly released granular academic records—his grades, class rank, or transcripts—so those specifics remain unconfirmed in the reporting provided ^[2]. Allegations that he paid someone to take the SAT or that his admission was a favor are reported as claims and calls for investigation, not as definitive proven facts in the materials at hand ^{[5] [3]}.

6. Why this matters — credential, credibility, and political theater

The Wharton credential matters because it provides a concise credential that Trump uses to bolster business credibility; outlets note the degree’s symbolic weight in political debates and public perception ^[4]. At the same time, unresolved questions about academic records and contested claims feed narratives on both sides: critics emphasize possible irregularities and the school’s reluctance to highlight him, while supporters point to the diploma and year as straightforward proof of elite training ^{[2] [4] [3]}.

7. Bottom line for your question

The straightforward, consistently reported answer is: Donald Trump earned a Bachelor of Science in economics from the Wharton School and graduated in May 1968 ^{[1] [2]}. Caveats: reporting also documents that precise academic details beyond the diploma—grades, class rank, and some admission records—are not publicly documented in the cited reporting and remain subjects of dispute or inquiry ^{[2] [3]}.