Every year, millions of ambitious young people face the challenge of choosing the right university. With the overwhelming influx of online information and countless options available, making this decision can be anything but straightforward.
Many students dream of one day leading their own businesses and managing their own teams, but choosing a university that offers the best opportunities to achieve these goals can be challenging.
So, to help students out, our latest research reveals which universities are the best at paving the way for students aspiring to be leaders in the business world. To do this, we’ve analysed LinkedIn data for over 200 of the top academic institutions around the world to reveal the percentage of their alumni who have gone on to hold the title of CEO.
The Top 10 UK Universities Producing the Most CEOs
Using the university league table for 2025, we compiled a list of the top universities in the UK, then worked out which of these has the highest percentage of alumni that have gone on to become CEOs.
1. London School of Economics and Politics
World-leading university London School of Economics and Politics (LSE), based in the heart of London, has the highest percentage of alumni that have become CEOs in the UK. The top three fields of employment here after graduating are financial and professional services, government and public sector and education, teaching and research.
According to our research, approximately 5.6% of all of the university’s alumni have gone on to become business leaders. Not only is the university producing the most CEOs, but it’s been ranked the top university in London by the Times and Sunday Good University Guide 2024. And, according to LSE, over 40 world leaders have studied or taught at the university — pretty impressive!
If you’re looking to experience life in London whilst studying at a top university, we offer summer school programmes in the capital for a diverse range of subjects.
2. University of Oxford
Claiming second place for the institution producing the most CEOs is the University of Oxford, with about one in twenty (5.29%) Oxford alumni becoming a CEO at some point after graduating.
The University of Oxford, made up of 36 colleges, has not only produced the second-highest number of CEOs, but 28 British Prime Ministers, 30 international leaders and an incredible 120 Olympic medal winners.
3. University of Cambridge
In third place is the University of Cambridge, with 5.04% of the 405,276 alumni going on to be CEOs, slightly less than Oxford, but still very impressive.
Cambridge University is one of the oldest universities in the world, founded in 1209, and is home to more than 20,000 students from 140 countries. Its prestige and dedication to its students seems to provide them with the right tools to excel in their chosen industry and make their way to the top.
4. Imperial College London
Taking fourth place is Imperial College London, where 4.60% of alumni go on to become CEOs here.
It may not come as a surprise that the three of the top five universities are based in London. The capital has been voted the best student city by QS World University Ranking for five years in a row, boasting a large international community, top-rated universities and ample career opportunities.
Imperial College London is just one of the prestigious universities in the city, providing the necessary tools and skills for graduates to become successful business leaders.
5. City, University of London
City, University of London, located in Islington, takes fifth place, with a commendable 3.54% of its alumni going on to be business leaders.
Specialising in six academic departments, including business, policy and global affairs, sciences and law, the university seems to provide a huge stepping stone for various students on their way to becoming chief executive officers.
The Top 10 Global Universities Producing the Most CEOs
But how does this compare to the rest of the world? Using a league table of the top 100 universities around the globe, we ranked these according to the percentage of alumni who became CEOs at some point after graduating. Here are the top 10 based on our research:
1. Stanford University
Taking the crown for the top global university that has produced the most CEOs in the world is Stanford University in California, USA.
This university is celebrated for its high-level and proximity to Silicon Valley, the global hotspot for technology and innovation. Around one in ten (9.21%) Stanford alumni have become CEOs since graduating. This remarkable achievement underscores Stanford’s strong curriculum, emphasis on leadership development, and strong industry connections.
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Taking second place is Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a globally renowned institution. An impressive 8.49% of previous students have secured a CEO position in various companies.
MIT’s extensive network and resources, coupled with its cutting-edge research, appear to have empowered graduates to excel in top leadership positions worldwide.
3. Princeton University
At Princeton University, 7.03% of alumni are now leading a company as CEOs. This statistic reflects Princeton’s commitment to encouraging leadership and excellence among its students, providing them with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in executive roles.
4. Yale University
At Yale University, a private Ivy League institution, 6.78% of ex-students have become CEOs since graduating. This highlights Yale’s dedication to supporting leadership and providing a strong foundation for its students to achieve success in executive positions across diverse sectors.
5. University of Pennsylvania
Following just behind is the University of Pennsylvania, with 5.90% of past students becoming business leaders. For those interested in this prestigious university, you can head on a summer school programme in Pennsylvania to experience university life and explore the city with other students from around the world.
The Top 10 Universities in the US Producing the Most CEOs
Almost two-fifths (38%) of Americans are college graduates, but only a select few go on to lead entire companies as CEOs. So, which universities are most of these students graduating from?
| Rank | University | Number of alumni on LinkedIn | Number of CEOs | % of alumni who have become CEOs |
| 1 | Vanderbilt University | 11,202 | 1,295 | 11.56% |
| 2 | Stanford University | 334,276 | 30,772 | 9.21% |
| 3 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 245,385 | 20,843 | 8.49% |
| 4 | Princeton University | 82,549 | 5,801 | 7.03% |
| 5 | Yale University | 137,704 | 9,342 | 6.78% |
| 6 | Dartmouth College | 58,625 | 3,860 | 6.58% |
| 7 | University of Pennsylvania | 198,202 | 11,702 | 5.90% |
| 8 | Duke University | 137,270 | 7,719 | 5.62% |
| 9 | Cornell University | 348,336 | 19,384 | 5.56% |
| 10 | Columbia University | 254,593 | 14,137 | 5.55% |
Vanderbilt University, located in Nashville, Tennessee, ranks as the top US university for producing CEOs. According to our research, an astounding 11.56% of Vanderbilt alumni have gone on to become CEOs during their careers. With multiple schools, from law to music, the university is a great platform for students with goals of all shapes and sizes.
As well as coming first in the global ranking, Stanford University takes second place in the US ranking, overtaken only by Vanderbilt which doesn’t rank in the league table of top 100 universities globally. As we’ve seen, 9.21% of alumni here have become CEOs. In third place is Massachusetts with 8.49%, also taking second place in our global ranking.
The Top 10 Canadian Universities Producing the Most CEOs
We also looked into the top Canadian universities providing the best platform for students who want to become CEOs. Here’s the top 10 in our ranking:
| Rank | University | Number of alumni on LinkedIn | Number of CEOs | % of alumni who have become CEOs |
| 1 | McGill University | 225,497 | 9,603 | 4.26% |
| 2 | Queen’s University | 153,620 | 6,179 | 4.02% |
| 3 | Western University | 191,077 | 6,408 | 3.35% |
| 4 | University of British Columbia | 269,567 | 8,969 | 3.33% |
| 5 | HEC Montreal | 101,337 | 3,215 | 3.17% |
| 6 | University of Toronto | 393,870 | 12,223 | 3.10% |
| 7 | Mount Allison University | 14,009 | 414 | 2.96% |
| 8 | University of Alberta | 180,403 | 5,210 | 2.89% |
| 9 | Saint Mary’s University | 37,389 | 1,069 | 2.86% |
| 10 | Acadia University | 24,462 | 694 | 2.84% |
Claiming first place for the Canadian university producing the most CEOs is McGill University in Montreal. 4.26% of alumni here are now, or have been, chief executive officers of a company. Queen’s University in Kingston ranks next, amounting to 4.02%.
In third place is Western University in London, Canada, with 3.35% of alumni taking on a leadership role at some point after graduating.
While the University of Toronto school came in the sixth spot.
The Top 10 Australian Universities Producing the Most CEOs
Australia is home to 42 universities, but which of these takes the crown for producing the most CEOs?
| Rank | University | Number of alumni on LinkedIn | Number of CEOs | % of alumni who have become CEOs |
| 1 | Bond University | 40,039 | 1,900 | 4.75% |
| 2 | University of New England (UNE) | 55,897 | 2,428 | 4.34% |
| 3 | University of Divinity | 973 | 35 | 3.60% |
| 4 | Southern Cross University | 43,277 | 1,556 | 3.60% |
| 5 | University of Southern Queensland (USQ) | 60,281 | 2,166 | 3.59% |
| 6 | University of New South Wales Sydney | 257,885 | 9,263 | 3.59% |
| 7 | University of Sydney | 250,823 | 8,827 | 3.52% |
| 8 | University of Technology Sydney (UTS) | 191,922 | 6,391 | 3.33% |
| 9 | University of Melbourne | 258,311 | 8,573 | 3.32% |
| 10 | Australian National University (ANU) | 94,131 | 3,121 | 3.32% |
Bond University in Gold Coast, Queensland, is the Australian university producing the highest percentage of CEOs from its past students, with around 4.75% of the institution’s alumni having become CEOs.
Next is the University of New England (UNE), with a slightly lower percentage of 4.34%. Taking third place is University of Divinity, a university specialising in spiritual practices, with 3.60% of alumni becoming company leaders later in life.
Meanwhile, the Universities of Sydney and Melbourne, two of Australia’s top universities, also make the top 10 list, with 3.52% and 3.32% of graduates going on to become CEOs.
How University Can Help You to Become a CEO
Sean Stevens, CEO of Immerse Education and University of Oxford alumni, provides expert tips for university students, discussing how university helped him to get to where he is today:
“University is the first building block in a lifetime of growth, development and success.
“Remember to throw yourself into everything that comes your way. Focus on working hard and developing your skills, but try to make connections, put yourself out there, and get as much experience as you possibly can. In short, take every opportunity that comes your way.
“At Immerse Education, we offer a range of summer schools at universities across the globe, giving students the opportunity to experience enriching academic environments whilst helping them to decide which academic path is right for them.
“We also offer a yearly essay competition for students to win a full or partial scholarship to experience a summer school and career preparation programme at one of these world leading universities, such as the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford.
“We truly believe that whoever you are, wherever you’re from, whatever you’re studying, everyone has the capability to become successful. It’s the passion, creativity and hard work that will get you there.”
Methodology
To find out the universities that produce the most CEOs, we created a seed list of top-rated universities from around the world, as well as specific seed lists for universities in the UK, the US, Australia, and Canada.
Sources for the seed lists of universities used are:
- UK (top 50 taken): https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings
- USA (top 50 taken): https://www.topuniversities.com/where-to-study/north-america/united-states/ranked-top-100-us-universities
- Canada (top 50 taken): https://edurank.org/geo/ca/
- Australia (top 40 taken): https://edurank.org/geo/au/
- Global ranking of top universities (top 50 taken): https://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/choosing-university/worlds-top-100-universities
For each university on the seedlist, we found the number of alumni and number of CEOs via LinkedIn data. The percentage of alumni who have become CEOs was then calculated for each university.
Data correct as of 05/07/2024.
