Fact check: What was Donald Trump's academic performance at Wharton School of Business?

1. Summary of the results

Donald Trump's academic performance at Wharton was notably average, with a confirmed GPA of 2.94 ^[1]. He performed adequately in core business courses like finance and accounting but struggled in elective courses, receiving grades as low as C+ in subjects like the history of American business ^[1]. Multiple sources confirm that Trump did not graduate with honors, which required a GPA of 3.40 or higher ^[2], and was not listed on the 1968 Dean's List, which represented the top 15% of the class ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements emerge from the analyses:

• Trump has actively worked to prevent the release of his academic records, with his former lawyer Michael Cohen testifying that Trump ordered him to threaten academic institutions to prevent the disclosure of his grades and SAT scores ^[4]
• His former professor, William T. Kelley, reportedly described Trump as "the dumbest goddamn student I ever had" and noted that Trump entered Wharton believing he already knew everything ^[5]
• Trump was largely "nonexistent" during his time at the university, with most classmates having no memory of him ^[5]
• There are suggestions that Trump's admission to Wharton may have been facilitated through his father's connections ^[2]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The most significant misrepresentation comes from Trump himself, who has repeatedly claimed to have graduated "first in his class" at Wharton ^{[6] [2]}. This claim has been definitively proven false through multiple sources:

• His actual GPA of 2.94 was respectable but not outstanding ^[1]
• He did not appear on any academic achievement lists ^[3]
• He did not graduate with honors ^[2]

This discrepancy between Trump's claims and the documented reality serves several purposes:

• It helps build a narrative of academic excellence that supports his public image as a successful businessman
• It reinforces his self-portrayed identity as an intellectual elite
• It provides credentials that could enhance his political and business authority

The truth about Trump's academic performance, while not poor, is far more modest than his public claims suggest, demonstrating a pattern of embellishment for personal gain.