Hard work and dedication propelled these people to the CEO positions they hold today, but they all received an education that put them on the path for professional success. The leaders who run the top companies in the nation attended a variety of schools to build a strong academic foundation. See where the CEOs at the top 10 Fortune 500 companies got their start.
Title and Company: CEO and president, Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
Fortune rank: 1
Degree: B.S., Business Adminstration
College: University of Arkansas
US News rank: 133 (tie), National Universities
Title and Company: CEO and chairman, Exxon Mobil Corp.
Fortune rank: 2
Degree: B.S., Electrical Engineering
College: Texas A&M University – College Station
US News rank: 69 (tie), National Universities
Title and Company: CEO and chairman, Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
Fortune rank: 3
Degree: B.S., Business Adminstration
College: University of Nebraska – Lincoln
US News rank: 124 (tie), National Universities
Title and Company: Chairman and Ceo, Apple Inc.
Fortune rank: 4
Degree: B.S., Industrial Engineering
College: Auburn University
US News rank: 103 (tie), National Universities
Title and Company: CEO and chairman, UnitedHealth Group Inc.
Fortune rank: 5
Degree: B.S., Accounting
College: Illinois State University
US News rank: 159 (tie), National Universities
Title and Company: CEO, president and chariman, McKesson Corp.
Fortune rank: 6
Degree: B.A., Business Administration
College: University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
US News rank: 69 (tie), National Universities
Title and Company: CEO and president, CVS Health Corp.
Fortune rank: 7
Degree: B.S., Pharmacy
College: University of Pittsburgh
US News rank: 68, National Universities
Title and Company: Chairman, president and CEO, Amazon.com.
Fortune rank: 8
Degree: B.S., Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
College: Princeton University
US News rank: 1, National Universities
Title and Company: CEO, chairman and president, AT&T Inc.
Fortune rank: 9
Degree: B.S., Accounting
College: University of Central Oklahoma (West)
US News rank: 76 (tie), Regional Universities (West)
Title and Company: CEO and chairman, General Motors Co.
Fortune rank: 10
Degree: B.S., Electrical Engineering
College: Kettering University
US News rank: 26 (tie), Regional Universities (Midwest)
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