The college degree of the top-earning CEO in every state

The college degree of the top-earning CEO in every stateThe college degree of the top-earning CEO in every stateWith the likes of fruchtmark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates dropping out of school to start companies, some people have questioned whether a college education is necessary to rise to the top of the business world. But such iconic leaders are the exception, notlage the rule.The vast majority of CEOs in the United States have a bachelors degree. In fact, as we discovered, the highest paid chief executives in every state have college degrees - and 67% of them have graduate degrees, too.How do we know this? Based on data from 2017, we compiled a list of the highest-paid chief executive officers in each state and dug into each of their biographies to learn about their educational background what they studied and where.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreWe then broke their undergr aduate degrees down into six categories that you might find at any college across the country engineering, economics, arts and humanities, sciences, social sciences, and business and finance.Now, while you may think that most of the CEOs received their bachelors degrees from Ivy League schools, we found that only six did, with three having graduated from the University of Pennsylvania.Whats more, fewer than half (21) went to private schools 26 CEOs attended public colleges and four attended higher institutions in other countries.The CEOs areas of study range from accounting to religion, but most majored in business (37%) or engineering (22%). The leaders with engineering degrees tend to run energy, medical device, transportation and other companies whose focus require the discipline.We also found that 12% of the CEOs majored in economics, which, of course, is closely related to business. Another 12% studied social sciences two-thirds of whom chose political science and 9% earned a degree in the arts and humanities. Just 2% of the top-earning CEOs studied the natural sciences. Of the chief executives who possess graduate degrees, 74% received a masters in business administration and 16% earned law degrees.In short, it seems that the most common path to the peak of business is, not surprisingly, a business degree (or two). Its certainly not the only route, though. So for those philosophy students with aspirations to run a company and make millions, theres hope for you yetThe college degree of the top earning CEO in every US state, courtesy of Resume.ioYou might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong peopleSourcesSalisbury, I. (2018)This Map Shows the Highest Paid CEO In Every State.time.comThe Associated Press. (2018)The highest-paid CEOs by state.financialpost.comSouthern Company. (2018)Meet Tom, CEO of Southern Company.southerncompany.comGCI. (2018)GCI Executive Team.gci.comSalary.com. (2017)Compensation by Company.salary.comWalmart. (2018)Doug McMillon President and CEO of Walmart.corporate.walmart.comFreeport-McMoRan. 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