Janice Lozano
Former US President Donald Trump's academic record has been a topic of interest for many, with some even forging his Fordham University report card, which was shared on social media. Trump studied at Fordham College at Rose Hill for two years before transferring to the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Economics in 1968. Trump's former attorney, Michael Cohen, testified that Trump had directed him to threaten Fordham University with legal action if they released his grades or test scores. Trump's performance as a student at Fordham remains unknown, with some students claiming he was a non-entity on campus, while others express mixed feelings about his time there.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time at Fordham University | 2 years |
| Course | Economics |
| Activities | Played squash |
| Perception | Did not leave "footprints" at Fordham |
| Grades | Not disclosed |
| Draft | Avoided the draft and the Vietnam War |
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What You'll Learn
Donald Trump attended Fordham University for two years in the 1960s
Trump's time at Fordham was marked by his lack of involvement in the university community. According to the President of the Fordham College Alumni Association, Paul F. Gerken, Trump did not leave any "footprints" at Fordham. This is despite Trump's involvement in squash. Gerken's statement is supported by the fact that no one at his 50th reunion in 2018 had any recollections of him.
Trump's grades and test scores from Fordham have never been made public. In 2015, his former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, warned Fordham University not to disclose Trump's grades, threatening legal action and emphasizing that doing so would result in "criminal and civil liability and damages". During his testimony before the House Oversight Committee in 2019, Cohen revealed that Trump had directed him to threaten his high school, colleges, and the College Board to never release his grades or SAT scores.
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He studied at the School of Business and played squash
Donald Trump attended Fordham University for two years, starting in 1964. He studied at the School of Business, but his time there was unremarkable. A fellow student who started at Fordham in the same year as Trump recalled that they had no recollection of him, and that he was, for all practical purposes, a non-entity on campus. This is supported by Paul F. Gerken, President of the Fordham College Alumni Association, who stated that Trump did not leave "footprints" at Fordham.
Trump did play squash during his time at Fordham, but this appears to be one of the only things known about his extra-curricular activities at the university. Trump's grades and test scores from his time at Fordham have never been made public, as they are protected under federal student privacy laws. However, in 2019, Trump's former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, testified that in the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election, Trump had asked him to warn Fordham University of legal action should they disclose his grades. A forged image of Trump's Fordham University report card was shared on social media, listing the address of his childhood home in Queens.
After two years, Trump transferred to the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science in Economics.
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Trump received draft deferments, avoiding the Vietnam War
While at Fordham University, Donald Trump received draft deferments, allowing him to avoid serving in the Vietnam War. Trump received a total of five draft deferments, four of which were for education. Trump attended Fordham University from 1964 to 1966, and during this time, the Vietnam War was ongoing, with U.S. troop strength increasing.
Draft evasion during the Vietnam War was a common practice, especially among young men from influential families, those in college, or those pursuing graduate studies. Many individuals sought to evade the draft by joining military forces that were less likely to be deployed to Vietnam, such as the Coast Guard or the National Guard. Others preemptively left the country, with Canada being a popular destination.
Trump's student status at Fordham University allowed him to obtain draft deferments and avoid the possibility of being sent to fight in the Vietnam War. He later transferred to the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in economics in May 1968.
After graduating, Trump received a fifth draft deferment, this time on medical grounds. He was diagnosed with bone spurs in his heels in 1972, which resulted in a 4-F medical deferment, exempting him from military service. Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, testified that Trump had made up this injury to dodge Vietnam service, stating that Trump considered it stupid to serve in Vietnam.
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Trump's grades and test scores have never been made public
While Donald Trump has boasted about his academic achievements, his grades and test scores from his time at Fordham University have never been made public. In fact, Trump directed his personal attorney, Michael Cohen, to threaten Fordham University and his high school with legal action if they released his grades or SAT scores. Cohen reminded the schools that Trump's student records were protected by federal law and that they could face "criminal and civil liability and damages including, among other things, substantial fines, penalties and even the potential loss of government aid and other funding".
In 2024, an image purporting to show Trump's report card from Fordham University began circulating on social media. The image, which listed the address of Trump's childhood home in Queens, showed Trump scoring a 1.28-grade point average in a semester. However, Fordham University denied the authenticity of the image, with a spokesperson stating that it was a "forgery".
Despite Trump's efforts to keep his academic records private, his former attorney, Michael Cohen, has spoken publicly about his academic performance. In his testimony before the House Oversight Committee, Cohen described Trump as a "conman" who "directed me to threaten his high school, his colleges, and the College Board to never release his grades or SAT scores".
Trump's academic performance and achievements have been a topic of interest and debate throughout his political career. He has received several honorary degrees, some of which have been revoked since he entered politics. Additionally, he touted his academic record in his 1987 bestseller, "The Art of the Deal", writing, "Perhaps the most important thing I learned at Wharton was not to be overly impressed by academic credentials".
Trump's time at Fordham University was also notable for his ability to avoid the draft and the Vietnam War by obtaining draft deferments as a college student. However, beyond this, Trump did not leave a significant impression during his time at the university. He attended Fordham from 1964 to 1966, studying at the School of Business, before transferring to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Economics in 1968.
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Trump enjoyed his time at Fordham and respected the university
Donald Trump's time at Fordham University was marked by a notable absence of "footprints", as described by the President of the Fordham College Alumni Association, Paul F. Gerken. Trump's involvement in campus life was limited, and he is remembered as a non-entity by his peers. However, according to a letter penned by his former attorney, Michael Cohen, Trump "truly enjoyed his two years at Fordham and has great respect for the university".
Trump's time at Fordham was brief, lasting only two years before he transferred to the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, where he would go on to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Economics in 1968. Despite his short tenure at Fordham, Trump's respect for the university was evident in his later years.
During his time at Fordham, Trump took advantage of his student status to obtain draft deferments, allowing him to avoid serving in the Vietnam War. While this strategy allowed Trump to focus on his studies, it also indicates a level of respect for the academic opportunities afforded by the university.
Trump's respect for Fordham may also be inferred from his later actions as a politician. Notably, Trump opposed student debt forgiveness plans and celebrated the defeat of Biden's widespread debt relief plan in the Supreme Court. These actions demonstrate a belief in personal responsibility for educational pursuits, which aligns with Trump's own journey through higher education.
While Trump's academic records from Fordham are not publicly available due to student privacy laws, the university's confirmation of Cohen's warning against disclosing Trump's grades suggests that Trump valued his time at the institution and wished to maintain a positive relationship with it.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Donald Trump attended Fordham University for two years before transferring to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Trump studied liberal arts at Fordham College at Rose Hill.
According to Michael Cohen, Trump's former personal attorney, Trump "truly enjoyed his two years at Fordham and has great respect for the university."
It is known that Trump played squash during his time at Fordham University. However, according to the President of the Fordham College Alumni Association, Paul F. Gerken, Trump did not leave a significant impression or "footprints" at the university.
No, Trump's grades and test scores from Fordham University have never been made public. Leading up to the 2016 presidential election, Trump directed his personal attorney, Michael Cohen, to threaten legal action against the university if they released his grades or test scores.
