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Fact check: What is the complete educational background of Donald Trump?

Checked on June 7, 2025

1. Summary of the results

Donald Trump's complete educational path is well-documented and consistently reported across multiple sources. His education began at the private Kew-Forest School, where he studied through seventh grade [1]. He was then transferred to the New York Military Academy due to behavioral issues [1]. After completing his secondary education, Trump attended Fordham University for two years before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School [1]. He graduated from Wharton in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics [1] [2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements are worth noting:

  • The reason for Trump's transfer from Kew-Forest to New York Military Academy was specifically due to behavioral issues [1], which provides important context about his early education.
  • While Trump claims he transferred from Fordham to Penn because he "wanted a new challenge," there were unsubstantiated allegations about poor grades at Fordham [3].
  • Despite Trump's frequent mentions of his Wharton education during his political career, it's important to note that his degree was a bachelor's degree, not an MBA or advanced degree as some might assume [2].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question itself is neutral, but there are several areas where misunderstandings commonly occur:

  • Some sources deliberately focus on other aspects of Trump's life while omitting his educational background entirely [4] [5], which could contribute to incomplete public understanding.
  • The consistent mention of "Wharton" in Trump's public statements might lead some to assume he held an advanced degree, when in fact it was a bachelor's degree [1] [3].
  • While allegations about poor grades at Fordham have circulated, these remain unsubstantiated [3], demonstrating how educational backgrounds can become politicized without proper evidence.
Want to dive deeper?
What degrees did Donald Trump earn at Wharton School of Business?
Did Donald Trump transfer from Fordham University to University of Pennsylvania?
What were Donald Trump's academic achievements and grades in college?
Has Donald Trump's educational record been subject to any controversies or disputes?
What military academy did Donald Trump attend before college?