Most Powerful Women
Last week, Forbes released its annual ranking of the world’s most powerful women.
The list’s top 10, comprised mostly of government officials and Fortune 500 executives, includes four honorees who earned undergraduate degrees from highly ranked Ivy League institutions in the U.S. News 2016 Best Colleges rankings.
While many of these women went on to earn graduate degrees, here’s a look at the undergraduate programs that jump-started their careers.
1. Angela Merkel
Occupation: Chancellor of Germany
College: University of Leipzig
U.S. News rank: 350 (tie), Best Global Universities
2. Hillary Clinton
Occupation: U.S. presidential candidate and former Secretary of State
College: Wellesley College
U.S News rank: 4 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges
3. Janet Yellen
Occupation: U.S. Federal Reserve Board Chair
College: Brown University
U.S. News rank: 14, National Universities
4. Melinda Gates
Occupation: Co-chair, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
College: Duke University
U.S. News rank: 8, National Universities
5. Mary Barra
Occupation: CEO, General Motors
College: Kettering University
U.S. News rank: 23 (tie), Regional Universities (Midwest)
6. Christine Lagarde
Occupation: Managing director, International Monetary Fund
Law school: University Paris X
U.S. News rank: N/A
7. Sheryl Sandberg
Occupation: Chief operating officer, Facebook
College: Harvard University
U.S. News rank: 2, National Universities
8. Susan Wojcicki
Occupation: CEO, YouTube
College: Harvard University
U.S. News rank: 2, National Universities
9. Meg Whitman
Occupation: CEO, Hewlett-Packard
College: Princeton University
U.S. News rank: 1, National Universities
10. Ana Patricia Botin
Occupation: Chair, Santander Group, Banco Santander
College: Bryn Mawr College
U.S. News rank: 25 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges
Find a College to Launch a Career
Find out about other National Universities and get our complete rankings of the 2016 Best Colleges.
For more advice and information on how to select a college, connect with U.S. News Education on Twitter and Facebook.
More from U.S. News
College Commencement Speakers Offer Advice to 2016 Graduates
Colleges That Gave Fortune 500 CEOs Their Start
5 Can’t-Miss Best Colleges Rankings Lists
Where the Forbes 10 Most Powerful Women Went to College originally appeared on usnews.com