AOC gaduated bottom of her class

1. The basic record: cum laude and a double major

Boston University, biographical profiles and fact-checkers report that Ocasio-Cortez graduated from Boston University’s College of Arts & Sciences in 2011 with two majors — international relations and economics — and that she received Latin honors (cum laude), which is an academic distinction above the median, not an indication of being last in class ^{[1] [2] [3]}.

2. What the 2019 Snopes fact-check found

Snopes investigated related claims and quoted a university spokesperson confirming: “She graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts degree with two majors in International Relations and Economics. Latin Honors awarded was cum laude that is not tied to an individual major but the degree.” Snopes therefore treats claims that she did not graduate cum laude or lacked those majors as false or misleading ^[1].

3. Major mainstream references repeat the same facts

Encyclopedic and biographical sources such as Wikipedia and Britannica reflect the same particulars — Ocasio-Cortez’s 2011 graduation, double major, and Latin honors — and those are the facts repeated in multiple independent profiles ^{[2] [4] [3]}. When independent outlets and reference works converge on these key points, that strengthens the factual baseline about her academic credentials ^{[2] [3]}.

4. Why the “bottom of her class” claim is likely misinformation

The phrasing “bottom of her class” implies a ranking that none of the cited sources support. The available reporting and institutional confirmation describe honors (cum laude) and majors, which are inconsistent with being last. Snopes’ direct inquiry to the university is particularly notable because it sought primary confirmation and reported the outcome ^[1].

5. What supporters and critics focus on instead

Public discussion about Ocasio-Cortez’s education has generally centered on the substance of her majors, her internships (for example with Senator Ted Kennedy), and her early life — not a claim that she graduated last. Profiles often highlight her working-class background, student loans, and activism while at Boston University, which provides context for why her academic record matters politically ^{[4] [5]}.

6. Limits of the available reporting and remaining uncertainties

None of the provided sources include a detailed class-rank list or the precise GPA that would definitively place any student “bottom” or “top” of a class; university releases and public bios tend to report degree, majors, and honors rather than class rank. Therefore, available sources do not mention any primary document that lists class-by-class ranking to either confirm or refute an unverified “bottom of her class” assertion ^{[1] [2]}.

7. How to evaluate such claims going forward

When a specific ranking claim appears (e.g., “bottom of the class”), seek primary documentation: official transcripts, contemporary commencement lists, or direct statements from the university registrar. In this instance, Snopes’ direct contact with Boston University and encyclopedic sources provide authoritative context that contradicts the “bottom” claim, so the burden falls on anyone asserting the contrary to produce primary evidence ^{[1] [2]}.

Bottom line: multiple reputable sources and a fact-checker report that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez graduated from Boston University in 2011 with a double major and cum laude honors; none of the supplied reporting supports the claim she graduated at the bottom of her class ^{[1] [2] [3]}.