Business Schools That Trained Fortune 500 CEOs

See the MBA programs of Fortune 500 CEOs.

An MBA degree is a popular steppingstone to a lucrative job as a business executive. So it probably comes as no surprise that ambitious people often apply to a graduate business school with the hope that, if they are admitted to an MBA program, they can progress faster in their career. If you're an MBA applicant looking for inspiration, you may find it in the stories of Fortune 500 CEOs with MBA degrees. Read on to discover the different business schools that enrolled some of the future Fortune 500 leaders, listed here in alphabetical order by surname.

Richard C. Adkerson, chair and CEO of Freeport-McMoRan Inc.

B-school where he earned his MBA degree: Mississippi State University College of Business

U.S. News businessschool rank: 92 (tie)

Adkerson joined the Freeport-McMoRan mining company in 1989, and previously was partner and managing director at Arthur Andersen, where he led the firm's oil and gas industry practice. Institutional Investor magazine identified him as the "Best CEO in Metals and Mining" for 10 years. In 2011, he received "Executive of the Year" recognition from the W.P. Carey School of Business Dean's Council at Arizona State University.

Mary T. Barra, chair and CEO of General Motors Co.

B-school where she earned her MBA degree: Stanford Graduate School of Business in California

U.S. News businessschool rank: 1

Barra, the first female CEO of the iconic car company General Motors, began working for GM at the age of 18, when she was trying to raise money to pay for college. After earning her bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Kettering University, a school that was then known as the General Motors Institute, Barra went on to earn her MBA from Stanford.

Marc Bitzer, chair and CEO of Whirlpool Corp.

B-school where he earned his MBA degree: St. Gallen Graduate School of Business, Economics and Law in Switzerland

U.S. News businessschool rank: Not applicable (The school is based outside the U.S.)

Before working for Whirlpool, Bitzer spent eight years as a management consultant for the prestigious Boston Consulting Group in Toronto and Munich. He started at Whirlpool in 1999 as a vice president within its European division, eventually becoming president of its North America branch and president of U.S. operations. Then he was given responsibility as vice chairman for overseeing the company's work in multiple regions, including North America, the Middle East and Africa.

Gail Boudreaux, president and CEO of Anthem Inc.

B-school where she earned her MBA:Columbia Business School in New York City

U.S. News businessschool rank: 7 (tie)

Prior to becoming a leader in the health care sector, Boudreaux earned two degrees from Ivy League schools, including a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire and an MBA from Columbia University. In addition to those academic accolades, Boudreaux distinguished herself in athletics. She played for Dartmouth's basketball team during an era when the team won three Ivy League basketball championships. She was recognized as an Ivy League Player of the Year three times, and in 2017 the Ivy League honored her and 15 other distinguished alumni athletes with its "Legends of Ivy League Basketball" award.

Bruce D. Broussard, president and CEO of Humana Inc.

B-school where he earned his MBA degree: C.T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston

U.S. News businessschool rank: 97 (tie)

Before becoming an insurance company leader, Broussard had executive positions in a wide range of health care businesses, ranging from pharmaceutical companies to surgical centers to dental networks. Prior to joining Humana, he was the CEO of McKesson Specialty/US Oncology Inc., the result of a health care services and information technology company acquiring a network of community-based oncologists.

David B. Burritt, president and CEO of United States Steel Corp.

B-school where he earned his MBA degree: University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign College of Business

U.S. News businessschool rank: Unranked

Since May 2017, Burritt has headed U.S. Steel, a firm that supplies manufacturers with the steel components necessary to build machines such as household appliances, automobiles and farming equipment. He began working for the corporation in 2013 as executive vice president and chief financial officer. He previously worked for Caterpillar Inc., a construction equipment manufacturer, as chief financial officer.

André Calantzopoulos, CEO of Philip Morris International

B-school where he earned his MBA degree: INSEAD Business School in France

U.S. News businessschool rank: Not applicable (The school is based outside the U.S.)

Calantzopoulos began working for the Philip Morris tobacco company in 1985, holding leadership positions in Central and Eastern Europe. He was born and raised in Greece and has expressed optimism about the long-term economic prospects of his homeland. Under the leadership of Calantzopoulos, who has a degree in electrical engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, Philip Morris is designing smoke-free nicotine delivery technology.

Andrew Cecere, chair, president and CEO of U.S. Bancorp

B-school where he earned his MBA degree: Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota--Twin Cities

U.S. News businessschool rank: 28 (tie)

Cecere is the child of Italian immigrants, and his family ran a restaurant in St. Paul, Minnesota. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of St. Thomas in Houston. Before he held his current positions at Bancorp, Cecere served as the corporation's vice chairman and chief operating officer.

Tim Cook, CEO of Apple Inc.

B-school where he earned his MBA: Duke University's Fuqua School of Business in North Carolina

U.S. News businessschool rank: 12

In a 2013 talk at Duke University, Cook said he learned many important lessons at the university's business school: "What this place teaches you so well is how to learn and how to collaborate; and how to think about something; and how to approach something; and how to work with people who come from a very different point of view and have a different perspective than you do." The billionaire joined Apple in 1988 and has a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from Auburn University in Alabama.

David M. Cordani, president and CEO of Cigna Corp.

B-school where he earned his MBA degree:Barney School of Business at the University of Hartford in Connecticut

U.S. News business school rank: Unranked

Under Cordani's leadership since 2009, the Cigna health insurance company has delivered significant financial gains to shareholders and increased its revenues. Outside of his day job, Cordani does a significant amount of philanthropy work, and his family has a foundation that supports health-related charitable causes. He is co-author of "The Courage to Go Forward: The Power of Micro Communities" and has competed in more than 125 triathlons.

Jay Debertin, president and CEO of CHS Inc.

B-school where he earned his MBA degree:Wisconsin School of Business at the University of Wisconsin--Madison

U.S. News businessschool rank: 42 (tie)

As the head of a global agriculture and energy company, Debertin is focused on optimizing company operations and maximizing financial performance. His childhood was spent in Minnesota's Red River Valley, which has an abundance of farmland and farmers.

Gary Dickerson, president and CEO of Applied Materials Inc.

B-school where he earned his MBA degree: Henry W. Bloch School of Management at the University of Missouri--Kansas City

U.S. News businessschool rank: Unranked

Dickerson has more than 35 years of experience within the semiconductor industry, and his firm -- Applied Materials -- devises materials engineering solutions used in computer chips and advanced display systems. Barron's magazine has identified him as one of the "World's Best CEOs" several times. In 2018, Harvard Business Review cited Dickerson as one of the "Best-Performing CEOs in the World." In 2019, Forbes magazine included him on its "America's Most Innovative Leaders" list.

Jamie Dimon, chair and CEO of JPMorgan Chase & Co.

B-school where he earned his MBA:Harvard Business School in Boston

U.S. News businessschool rank: 5 (tie)

Jamie Dimon, a legendary finance and banking executive, grew up in an affluent New York family. His father and grandfather were Wall Street stockbrokers. Dimon was a stellar student, graduating summa cum laude from Tufts University in Massachusetts, where he earned his bachelor's degree. He graduated from Harvard Business School as a Baker Scholar, meaning he was in the top 5% of his MBA class. He sits on the boards of Harvard Business School and the New York University School of Medicine.

Marvin Ellison, president and CEO of Lowe's Cos.

B-school where he earned his MBA degree: Emory University's Goizueta Business School in Atlanta

U.S. News businessschool rank: 26 (tie)

The Lowe's CEO was formerly the CEO at J.C. Penney Co. Ellison was the first African American CEO at J.C. Penney in the retailer's history and has extensive experience in the retail industry, including many years as an executive at Home Depot. Fortune magazine honored Ellison by including him on its list of "World's Greatest Leaders in 2016," and Black Enterprise magazine identified him as its "2016 Corporate Executive of the Year."

Larry Fink, chair and CEO of BlackRock Inc.

B-school where he earned his MBA degree: Anderson School of Management at the University of California--Los Angeles

U.S. News businessschool rank: 18 (tie)

Alongside seven business partners, Fink created the BlackRock investment and asset management firm in 1998. Fortune magazine has labeled Fink one of the "World's Greatest CEOs." Meanwhile, Barron's magazine has included Fink on its annual list of "World's Best CEOs" more than a dozen times. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science from UCLA, and his MBA concentration was real estate.

Michelle Gass, CEO of Kohl's Corp.

B-school where she earned her MBA degree: Michael G. Foster School of Business at the University of Washington

U.S. News businessschool rank: 22

In January 2020, Gass received the National Retail Federation's "The Visionary" prize for excellent executives in the retail sector. According to the federation, Gass was chosen because she has advanced her company's business and culture. In 2019, Retail Dive declared Gass "Executive of the Year" in the retail sector. The former Starbucks executive is the first female CEO at Kohl's.

Dennis R. Glass, president and CEO of Lincoln Financial Group

B-school where he earned his MBA degree: Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business at the University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee

U.S. News businessschool rank: Unranked

Glass has significant leadership experience in the insurance and investment sector. Before he became CEO at Lincoln Financial Group, an insurance company, he served as the firm's chief operating officer. Earlier, he was president and CEO of the Jefferson Pilot Corp., a life insurer that merged with Lincoln in 2006. Glass previously held executive-level positions in the investment and insurance industries.

Joe Gorder, chair and CEO of Valero Energy Corp.

B-school where he earned his MBA degree: Our Lady of the Lake University in Texas

U.S. News businessschool rank: Unranked

Gorder has been the board chair of Valero Energy since Dec. 31, 2014, and he became CEO a few months prior on May 1, 2014. Gorder previously was the company's president, and he has also been the firm's chief operating officer and its chief commercial officer. Gorder has a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Missouri--St. Louis.

Alex Gorsky, chair and CEO of Johnson & Johnson

B-school where he earned his MBA: The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania

U.S. News businessschool rank: 2

Alex Gorsky began his Johnson & Johnson career by working as a sales representative. His company was ranked No. 1 among pharmaceutical companies in Fortune magazine's 2018 list of the World's Most Admired Companies. The Kansas City native, graduate of the United States Military Academy and former U.S. Army Ranger, joined the company in 1988 and worked his way up.

Samuel N. Hazen, CEO of HCA Healthcare Inc.

B-school where he earned his MBA degree: Lee Business School at the University of Nevada--Las Vegas

U.S. News businessschool rank: Unranked

After 35 years of working at HCA Healthcare, a corporation that owns and runs nearly 2,000 hospitals and other care facilities, Hazen, who earned a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Kentucky, took charge of the firm in January 2019. Immediately prior to his appointment as CEO, Hazen was the company's president and chief operating officer.

Roger C. Hochschild, president and CEO of Discover Financial Services

B-school where he earned his MBA degree: Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire

U.S. News business school rank: 10 (tie)

Before becoming the CEO of the company behind the Discover credit card, Hochschild spent about 14 years serving as the company's chief operating officer. He previously worked as executive vice president, chief administrative and strategic officer for Morgan Stanley, the financial services and investment banking company. He has a bachelor's degree in economics from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

Alfred F. Kelly Jr., chair and CEO of Visa Inc.

B-school where he earned his MBA degree: LaPenta School of Business at Iona College in New York

U.S. News businessschool rank: Unranked

Before he joined Visa, Kelly was president and CEO of Intersection, a tech and media firm. He also spent over two decades of his career at American Express, where he was president. Decades ago, during the Reagan administration, Kelly worked as a manager of information systems for the White House. Prior to that, he worked at PepsiCo in strategic planning.

Michel A. Khalaf, president and CEO of MetLife Inc.

B-school where he earned his MBA: Syracuse University's Martin J. Whitman School of Management in New York

U.S. News businessschool rank: 84 (tie)

Khalaf has more than three decades of experience in the insurance industry. He began working for MetLife in 2010 when his previous employer -- American Life Insurance Co., or Alico -- was acquired by MetLife. His first job for MetLife was as the CEO of its Middle East, South Africa and South Asia division. He subsequently rose through the ranks at MetLife, and he was appointed president and CEO of the firm on May 1, 2019.

Ramon Laguarta, chair and CEO of PepsiCo Inc.

B-school where he earned his MBA degree: ESADE Business School in Spain

U.S. News businessschool rank: Not applicable (The school is based outside the U.S.)

For more than two decades, Laguarta has worked for the PepsiCo food and beverage company, rising through the ranks in Europe. One of his goals as CEO is to improve the environmental sustainability of the company's product packaging. Laguarta grew up in Barcelona, Spain, and speaks numerous languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, Greek and Catalan. He is married and has three sons.

Karen S. Lynch, president and CEO of CVS Health Corp.

B-school where she earned her MBA degree: Boston University's Questrom School of Business

U.S. News businessschool rank: 50 (tie)

Lynch became CEO of CVS Health on Feb. 1, 2021. She arrived at this position with more than three decades of experience in the health care sector, including a stint as executive vice president of CVS Health. For five years in a row -- from 2016 to 2020 -- Lynch has been identified on Fortune magazine's list of the "50 Most Powerful Women in Business." In 2019, Business Insider named Lynch in its list of the "Top 100 People Transforming Business" and in 2020, Forbes magazine included her in its list of "The World's 100 Most Powerful Women."

Doug McMillon, president and CEO of Walmart Inc.

B-school where he earned his MBA: University of Tulsa's Collins College of Business in Oklahoma

U.S. News businessschool rank: Unranked

McMillon, an Arkansas native, started his career at Walmart as a teenager when he got a job unloading the company's trucks. After those humble beginnings, he rose to prominence and now heads Walmart, the top company in the Fortune 500 ranking. His MBA degree is in finance, a lucrative MBA specialization.

Scott E. McPherson, president and CEO of Core-Mark Holding Co. Inc.

B-school where he earned his MBA:Dr. Robert B. Pamplin, Jr. School of Business Administration at the University of Portland in Oregon

U.S. News business school rank: Unranked

McPherson took the reins at Core-Mark, a consumer goods distribution and marketing firm, in June 2018. He has been with the firm for more than 25 years. He has a bachelor's degree in business administration and management from Lewis & Clark College in Oregon.

Michael Miebach, CEO of Mastercard Inc.

B-school where he earned his MBA degree: University of Passau in Germany

U.S. News businessschool rank: Not applicable (The school is based outside the U.S.)

Before becoming CEO of Mastercard on Jan. 1, 2021, Miebach was the company's president and had served as chief product officer. During his tenure at Mastercard, Miebach has helped the company expand its offerings and diversify its product line so that it not only offers credit cards but also provides payment platforms for businesses, governments or people. He joined Mastercard in 2010, when he was brought on board to lead the company's operations in the Middle East and Africa. Miebach has extensive leadership experience in the banking industry, having previously held high posts at Barclays Bank and Citibank.

Jeff Miller, chair, president and CEO of Halliburton Co.

B-school where he earned his MBA degree: Mays Business School at Texas A&M University--College Station

U.S. News businessschool rank: 38

Before he assumed the role of CEO at Halliburton, an energy company, Miller was the company's president and chief health, safety and environment officer. Prior to his promotion to the CEO position, he had cultivated a reputation as a leader who demonstrated excellent customer service and successful project management, according to a Reuters news article published when he was named CEO.

Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft Corp.

B-school where he earned his MBA degree: University of Chicago's Booth School of Business

U.S. News businessschool rank: 3

Before becoming a powerful tech executive, Nadella grew up in India, where he earned a college degree in electrical engineering. He subsequently immigrated to the U.S., where he obtained a master's degree in computer science and began working for Sun Microsystems Inc. Nadella eventually left his position there to accept a job offer from Microsoft. He pursued his MBA while working full time at Microsoft.

Doug Parker, chair and CEO of American Airlines Group

B-school where he earned his MBA: Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management in Nashville, Tennessee

U.S. News businessschool rank: 23 (tie)

Parker has significant experience as a C-suite executive in the airline industry. Parker took charge of American Airlines in 2013 after the company merged with US Airways, the company where he was then chair and CEO. Parker claimed the top job at US Airways in 2005 after its merger with America West, a firm where he had been the chair, president and CEO.

David A. Ricks, chair and CEO of Eli Lilly and Co.

B-school where he earned his MBA degree: Kelley School of Business at Indiana University

U.S. News businessschool rank: 23 (tie)

Ricks has devoted more than two decades of his career to the Eli Lilly pharmaceutical company. He began working with the company in 1996, when he signed on as a business development associate. During his tenure at the firm, he has held leadership posts in the U.S., China and Canada. He has a bachelor of science degree from Purdue University in Indiana.

Ronald A. Rittenmeyer, executive chair and CEO of Tenet Healthcare Corp.

B-school where he earned his MBA degree: Helzberg School of Management at Rockhurst University in Missouri

U.S. News businessschool rank: Unranked

Rittenmeyer became a board director with Tenet Healthcare, a firm that operates a variety of health care facilities, in 2010. Six years later, he was named lead director at Tenet, and the very next year he was made executive chairman. Shortly thereafter, he became Tenet's CEO. This is not his first time being a CEO. He has been a CEO at Millennium Health, Turnberry Advisors and other companies in various sectors. He has a bachelor's degree in commerce and economics from Wilkes University in Pennsylvania.

Vivek Sankaran, president and CEO of Albertsons Companies Inc.

B-school where he earned his MBA degree: Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan--Ann Arbor

U.S. News businessschool rank: 13 (tie)

Before he was head of one of the nation's biggest food and drug retailers and grocery store chains, Sankaran had a decade-long stint at PepsiCo, where he served in a variety of leadership positions such as CEO of PepsiCo Foods North America. He is a former partner at McKinsey & Co., one of the world's most prestigious management consulting firms. He also holds a master's degree in manufacturing from Georgia Institute of Technology.

Dan Schulman, president and CEO of PayPal Holdings Inc.

B-school where he earned his MBA degree: Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University

U.S. News businessschool rank: 10 (tie)

Schulman has a great deal of experience as an executive. Before his 2014 arrival at PayPal, a financial services firm, he was a business leader in a variety of sectors, including the telecommunications, banking and technology industries. Fortune magazine has previously recognized him as one of the top 10 CEOs in the world. Schulman earned his undergraduate degree at Middlebury College in Vermont.

Ray Scott, president and CEO of Lear Corp.

B-school where he earned his MBA degree: Eli Broad Graduate School of Management at Michigan State University

U.S. News businessschool rank: 39 (tie)

Scott began his business career at Lear, an automotive technology company, in 1988. He served as president of the company's Seating division and its E-Systems division before becoming CEO. He has a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Michigan. Scott has multiple board positions, including a role on the alumni board of his business school and the trustee board of Kettering University in Michigan.

Stephen J. Squeri, chair and CEO of American Express Co.

B-school where he earned his MBA degree: O'Malley School of Business at Manhattan College in New York City

U.S. News businessschool rank: Unranked

Squeri has been working at American Express since 1985, and during his tenure has led initiatives such as the unification of various company divisions into its Commercial Services Group and reallocation of the company's resources into areas of the business with high growth potential. Before working at American Express, Squeri worked as a management consultant at Arthur Andersen.

Carol Tomé, CEO of United Parcel Service Inc.

B-school where she earned her MBA degree: University of Denver's Daniels College of Business

U.S. News businessschool rank: 77 (tie)

Tomé became CEO of UPS on June 1, 2020, and has served on the board of the company since 2003. She was previously an executive vice president and chief financial officer for The Home Depot Inc. During her 18 years as CFO for Home Depot, the company's shareholder value increased by 450%. After she secured the CEO title at UPS, Tomé placed No. 5 in the 2020 edition of Fortune magazine's "50 Most Powerful Women in Business" ranking. In 2012, the Wall Street Journal newspaper listed Tomé No. 2 on its list of the best CFOs within U.S. corporations. Her MBA concentration was in finance.

Michel Vounatsos, CEO of Biogen Inc.

B-school where he earned his MBA degree: HEC Paris

U.S. News businessschool rank: Not applicable (The school is based outside the U.S.)

Vounatsos began his tenure as CEO of Biogen, a biotechnology company, in January 2017. He was hired by Biogen in 2016, and his initial role at the firm was as executive vice president, chief commercial officer. He previously spent two decades working for Merck and Co., a pharmaceutical company, where he held a variety of leadership positions and gradually increased his level of authority in the U.S., Europe and China.

Kathy J. Warden, chair, CEO and president of Northrop Grumman Corp.

B-school where she earned her MBA degree: George Washington University School of Business in Washington, D.C.

U.S. News businessschool rank: 53 (tie)

Before becoming CEO of Northrop Grumman, one of the nation's most influential defense contractors, Warden was the corporation's chief operating officer. She has worked at Northrop Grumman since 2008. Prior to that, Warden held leadership roles at General Dynamics and elsewhere, was a principal in a venture internet firm and spent almost a decade working in commercial industries with General Electric. She earned a bachelor's degree from James Madison University in Virginia.

Darren W. Woods, chair and CEO of ExxonMobil Corp.

B-school where he earned his MBA: Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management in Illinois

U.S. News businessschool rank: 4

Before he took the reins at ExxonMobil and became a leader in the oil and gas industry, Darren Woods -- a Midwesterner from Kansas -- earned degrees in engineering and business. In addition to an MBA, he holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University. Woods became the chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil in January 2017 when his predecessor, Rex Tillerson, was appointed secretary of state in the Trump administration.

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Powerful CEOs with MBA degrees

-- Richard C. Adkerson, Freeport-McMoRan Inc.

-- Mary T. Barra, General Motors Co.

-- Marc Bitzer, Whirlpool Corp.

-- Gail Boudreaux, Anthem Inc.

-- Bruce D. Broussard, Humana Inc.

-- David B. Burritt, United States Steel Corp.

-- André Calantzopoulos, Philip Morris International

-- Andrew Cecere, U.S. Bancorp

-- Tim Cook, Apple Inc.

-- David M. Cordani, Cigna Corp.

-- Jay Debertin, CEO of CHS Inc.

-- Gary Dickerson, Applied Materials Inc.

-- Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase & Co.

-- Marvin Ellison, Lowe's Cos.

-- Larry Fink, BlackRock Inc.

-- Michelle Gass, Kohl's Corp.

-- Dennis R. Glass, Lincoln Financial Group

-- Joe Gorder, Valero Energy Corp.

-- Alex Gorsky, Johnson & Johnson

-- Samuel N. Hazen, HCA Healthcare Inc.

-- Roger C. Hochschild, Discover Financial Services

-- Alfred F. Kelly Jr., Visa Inc.

-- Michel A. Khalaf, MetLife Inc.

-- Ramon Laguarta, PepsiCo Inc.

-- Karen S. Lynch, CVS Health Corp.

-- Doug McMillon, Walmart Inc.

-- Scott E. McPherson, Core-Mark Holding Co. Inc.

-- Michael Miebach, Mastercard Inc.

-- Jeff Miller, Halliburton Co.

-- Satya Nadella, Microsoft Corp.

-- Doug Parker, American Airlines Group

-- David A. Ricks, Eli Lilly and Co.

-- Ronald A. Rittenmeyer, Tenet Healthcare Corp.

-- Vivek Sankaran, Albertsons Companies Inc.

-- Dan Schulman, PayPal Holdings Inc.

-- Ray Scott, Lear Corp.

-- Stephen J. Squeri, American Express Co.

-- Carol Tomé, United Parcel Service Inc.

-- Michel Vounatsos, Biogen Inc.

-- Kathy J. Warden, Northrop Grumman Corp.

-- Darren W. Woods, ExxonMobil Corp.