Could that student in your Psych 101 class be the next President of the United States? It may depend on which college you’re attending. Some universities boast a disproportionately higher amount of presidential alumni than others.

The Ivy League is well represented, as you might expect, with the following statistics:

Harvard University—John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Theodore Roosevelt, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy
Yale University—George HW Bush, George W. Bush, and William Howard Taft
Princeton University—Woodrow Wilson and John F. Kennedy (though JFK graduated from Harvard)
Columbia University—Barack Obama
University of Pennsylvania—William Henry Harrison (withdrew)

So which non-Ivy League school can boast the most presidential grads? Though not part of the Ivy League, the College of William and Mary is a colonial university, and can boast three presidents among its alumni: Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, and John Tyler.

Several other private colleges can boast presidential graduates, such as:

Whittier College—Richard M. Nixon
Stanford University—Herbert Hoover
Eureka College—Ronald Reagan
Kenyon College—Rutherford B. Hayes
Bowdoin College—Franklin Pierce
Allegheny College—William McKinley
Williams College—James Garfield
Georgetown University—William Clinton
Union College—Chester A. Arthur
Dickinson College—James Buchanan
Ohio Central College—Warren G. Harding

As might be expected from the Commander-in-Chief, military institutions can also boast a high number of presidential grads:

United States Naval Academy—Jimmy Carter
United States Military Academy—Ulysses S. Grant, Dwight D. Eisenhower

So while private and military institutions can boast presidents, what about state universities? Were there ever any presidents who went to state college?

Lyndon Johnson–Texas State University at San Marcos
Harry S. Truman–University of Missouri, Kansas City (attended but dropped out)
Gerald Ford—University of Michigan
James K. Polk—University of North Carolina

Among presidents who attended college, what were the top 4 areas of study?

7 presidents studied law;
2 studied business;
1 studied medicine; and
1 achieved his doctorate.

So while many prestigious schools can boast distinguished alumni, were there ever any presidents who did not attend college? Click the graphic to find out!

So the concept of presidential destiny? Does the school you attend guarantee your shot at the Oval Office? Even though the Ivy League can boast many presidents, the truth is that many presidents never even attended college. It looks as though modern presidents come not only from the Ivy League, but also from private colleges, the military, and state universities. So it may be that the college you choose has less to do with your shot at the presidency, with other factors playing a much larger role.

Students who could be considered geeks and nerds certainly get the short end of the stick in high school, when social activity is a priority for many people; however, these same students get their chance to shine when they enroll in any number of technical programs in college and seem to do particularly well in computer science, if they are inclined in that direction.

Computers play a part in everyone’s lives to some degree, and the extent to which they are involved will continue to increase. As computer technology evolves, so do computer related careers, so this is one of the few fields that is sure to have an increasing demand for educated professionals as time goes on.

Even those who don’t desire to take on a full college curriculum in pursuit of a degree can get vocational training and find rewarding work in the field of computer repair, or become a network technician.

An associate’s degree is the first step in higher education and a good opportunity to take advantage of distance learning degrees. Computer science programs online allow prospective students to get a start while they are working full time, raising a family, or otherwise kept from enrolling in classes on campus.

There are certain advantages to having computer science classes in a brick-and-mortar environment. Access to multiple computer labs with their various operating systems and knowledgeable student techs are among them. On the other hand, online computer science programs have been designed to meet the needs of students, and while some interaction may be more limited than it would be on campus, it may be more available in some other ways.

Online school is prepared to be fully functional 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Email communication and forum discussions are standard channels for staying in touch and catching up on any missed work, so it may be easier to catch someone online when you are actually doing your coursework. Professors make an effort to be available when their students need them, so may have more flexible office hours than they do for their on-campus students.

Another advantage of the distance education degree for computer science majors may simply be the experience of being on the computer all day long. The skill set used for communicating and interacting with others virtually is a little different, and the online student will be well versed by the time he or she completes a degree and enters the job market.

Computer science promises to be a rewarding field for many years to come, and with high quality programs available through online degree courses, there is no reason for anyone who is interested in this kind of work not to pursue at least some level of education and training in the field.

Blame it on Monica Lewinsky. It’s difficult to think of college interns these days without thinking of scandal, SEX and swindles. When Congress became infatuated with that infamous stained blue dress, the reputation of college interns across the country became suspect.

Turns out, Lewinsky is far from the only college intern guilty of bad behavior while on the job. (Enlarge The Graphic Here)

A host of college students have stolen priceless moon rocks, had affairs on the job and otherwise caused their families, colleges and employers great embarrassment. A few have even taken down members of Congress.

Where’d Those Moon Rocks Go?

Consider the unusual case of Tiffany Fowler, Thad Roberts and Shae Saur. The three interns, each from different schools, didn’t know each other before they took an internship at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. But they sure got to know each other well during the time at the center.

Seems the three interns had decidedly sticky fingers.

The interns nabbed moon rocks from the center. And these weren’t your ordinary old rocks: They were worth $1,000 to $5,000 a gram. Those are awfully pricy rocks!

Officials at the Johnson Space Center grew suspicious when the stolen rocks showed up for sale on the Web site of the Mineralogy Club of Antwerp, Belgium, a year after the interns concluded their ill-fated internship.

The Stripper Intern (Of course)

You can’t have internship scandals without a bit of sex. Just ask Michelle Szuhay. She worked as an intern with the Ohio Liquor Control agency in Cincinnati. Part of her job, apparently, was to investigate local strip clubs to make sure they weren’t violating any state liquor laws. Of course, she had to do this as a stripper.

To help Szuhay, liquor control agents stole the identity of a local woman and gave it to their new intern. This turned out not be such a smart move. Local officials weren’t thrilled to learn that a government agency was engaging in identity theft. (Enlarge The Graphic Here)

People weren’t pleased, either, when they learned that the liquor control agents were giving Szuhay $100 a night for her stripping services.

For Good Measure, Another Sex Scandal

Tennessee Sen. Paul Stanley was a fairly anonymous state politician until he took 22-year-old college intern McKenzie Morrison under his wing. Stanley taught Morrison about more than checks and balances and Robert’s Rules of Order.

Can you guess the rest? Sure … Stanley had an affair with the intern. This neither pleased Stanley’s wife nor his constituents. He resigned from office in 2009, effectively ending his political career.

The Frisky Talk Show Host

Some intern scandals make the big time. Such was the case of David Letterman’s affairs with interns Stephanie Birkitt and Holly Hester. Letterman, who was married at the time, carried on a string of affairs with the interns, usually entertaining them in the secret bedroom at the Ed Sullivan Theater. (Does anything sound more salacious than a secret bedroom?)

Of course, even with all these newcomers to the field, Lewinsky still tops the charts when it comes to scandalous interns. After all, she did much more than Republican candidates Bob Dole or George Bush ever did to derail the Clinton presidency.

It’s hard to believe now, but the nation was enthralled by the tales of the naughty president and his young intern. Clinton’s famous declaration that he did not have sex “with that woman” will live on in intern-scandal lore.

The whole mess eventually led to Clinton’s impeachment.

Oddly enough, the scandal in the long run didn’t much hurt Clinton. He still remained a favorite among voters. And today, most of Clinton’s voters still look back favorably on Clinton’s time in office.

Of course, Lewinsky never stole any moon rocks …

The job market stinks. And it’s stunk for more than two years now.

This is especially bad news for college graduates. After all, they’re leaving college with more than just their degrees: They’re lugging tens of thousands of dollars worth of debt with them as they enter the job market.

And this situation isn’t about to get any better. The national unemployment rate has soared above 9 percent for more than a year. High-paying jobs are scarce, and those that exist attract a steady stream of qualified applicants.

For the new graduate, this is a depressing reality. The graduate has spent thousands of dollars to earn a degree. But that pricey degree guarantees them nothing when it comes to landing a solid job.

Be Realistic

College students today need to be realistic. It might not make financial sense to spend $20,000 or more to earn a degree in women’s studies or philosophy. When these students enter the job market, they’ll find out that their degrees might not be worth quite as much as they spent to earn them.

There are a lot of unemployed Theater, History, Art, and English literature majors out there. Students who don’t want to join them might consider pursuing a field of study more likely to give them the skills necessary to land a good-paying job.

This sounds cynical, but let’s be honest. As the infographic attached to this story explains, the costs of earning a college degree are rising steadily year after year. College is expensive. It’s not something that students should do for fun or just because everyone else is doing it.

Instead, students should attend college with a clear goal in mind: to eventually land a solid job in the career of their choice.

The dean of the local public university’s English department might say that an English Literature degree results in well-rounded students who’d be an asset to any company. But in reality, most companies would prefer to hire students with degrees in Accounting, Computer Science, Business Administration, Communications, and other more practical subjects.

Those students who rack up student loan debts of $20,000 or more and then come out of college with a degree in Art History are just asking for financial struggles.

The Soaring Costs of College

College graduates rarely leave their universities unencumbered with debt. According to some studies, the average college student who has earned a four-year degree leaves university life with more than $20,000 in student loan debt. Other studies say that the typical college student graduates with more than $4,000 in credit card debt on top of this.

That’s an awful lot of debt to be stuck with.

It’s not difficult to understand, though, just how college students can fall into so much debt. The average cost of tuition at a public four-year university is now $7,030 a year. At the same time, room-and-board costs an average of $10,000 annually.

And don’t forget the smaller, but still annoying, costs. This would include books and supplies, which cost students an average of $1,122 a year.

Students can make their post-college life a bit easier by refraining from taking on credit card debt. The recently passed Credit CARD Act can help with this: The Act states that recruiters can’t entice students to sign up for credit cards with gimmicks such as free t-shirts. The Act also says that individuals under the age of 21 can only apply for credit cards if they get a co-signer, ideally a parent, to sign their application.

As another school year starts, parents can easily get overwhelmed. They have to make sure they have all of their children’s school supplies purchased. They have to come up with new pick-up and drop-off schedules. They have to make sure that their children are signed up for the right after-school activities. Then there’s all that homework help that their children so often need.

But parents should also take time to ponder the quality of the education that their children are receiving. School districts vary across the country when it comes to providing a top-flight education. Simply put, in some districts the teachers and resources available to children are at higher levels than in others.

Each year, Morgan Quitno’s book, Education State Rankings, relies on several factors to come up with a ranking of the public-school education that children in each of the 50 states will receive. Some states fare quite well according to the book’s rankings. Others lag far behind.

For 2005-2006, Vermont topped Quitno’s list. The state scored a 17.6 ranking, significantly ahead of second-place finisher Connecticut’s 15.9 ranking. Massachusetts scored a solid 14.5 ranking to land in third place on the list, while New Jersey came in fourth with a ranking of 12.5.

Coming in fifth was Maine, with a score of 9.3. Minnesota notched the sixth spot with its score of 9.3.

On the other end of the list was Arizona, which ranked dead last among Quitno’s list. The state scored a -17.8 ranking. Also faring poorly was Mississippi, with its ranking of -14.3, and New Mexico, -13.4. California notched a -12.6 ranking, while Louisiana was little better with its ranking of -11.6. Alaska had a -11.2 ranking, while Alabama earned a -11.1.

There are many factors that lead to struggling schools. But many education experts point to class sizes. Struggling students can get lost in large classrooms. Teachers simply don’t have enough time to spend with each student.

It’s not surprising, then, that many of the states that are ranked near the top for education also have low class sizes.

The states of Maine, Vermont, New Jersey, Virginia, South Carolina, Arkansas, Kansas, Wyoming and North Dakota all have from 10 to 13 students for every one teacher. These states boast the smallest average class sizes in the country.

Three states, though, have anywhere from 21 to 30 students per teacher: California, North Carolina and Utah. These states have the largest class sizes in the country.

The typical primary classroom in the United States features 23.6 students. How does this compare to other countries? Actually, quite favorably to most.

In Japan, for instance, the typical primary classroom has 27 children, while in Chile that number stands at a whopping 32. In Australia, the average primary school classroom has 24 students, while in France that number stands at 23 and in Germany at 21.

Countries with lower average classroom sizes include Luxembourg, which has the lowest average class sizes with 16; Greece, which is next-lowest with 17; and Italy, which comes in at an average of 18 students.

Despite the problems associated with education in the United States, teaching remains a desired career. There are more than 1.5 million elementary school teachers working in the United States. An additional 1.14 million teachers work in U.S. high schools.

There are 47,649 pre-kindergarten teachers in the country, and 208,651 kindergarten teachers.

The average U.S. school teacher is 40 years old. This teacher’s salary, though, varies by the type of school.

Teachers in elementary schools, for instance, make an average salary of $53,150 a year. Teachers at the middle-school level make an average salary of $53,550, while those in high school typically earn $55,150 annually.

In which state teachers instruct, though, does play a role in average salary.

In New York, the median salary for a high school teacher stands at $71,000. In South Dakota, the median salary for high school teachers is a far lower $35,000. The average teacher with a bachelor’s degree in the United States earns a starting salary of $32,000.

When you think of the world’s problems, you might not consider illiteracy. But some of the illiteracy rates around the globe are shocking. And when people are illiterate, they face limited employment options and often live in poverty. Other times, illiterate people turn to illegal ways to earn an income.

The majority of inmates in U.S. prisons are illiterate. The same is true of all juveniles convicted of crimes.

The United States and other countries do have programs designed to teach their residents to read and write their native languages. But the demand far outpaces the resources available.

Here are some statistics outlining just how important a problem illiteracy continues to be.

Illiteracy is estimated to cost U.S. taxpayers and businesses $20 billion a year. Studies show that 44 million U.S. adults can’t read well enough to read a simple story to a child.

It’s not easy getting through life when you can’t read or write. Perhaps that’s why 60 percent of the United States’ prison inmates are illiterate. It might also explain why 85 percent of all juvenile offenders in the United States suffer from serious reading problems.

Literacy rates do vary from state to state. California has the highest percentage of residents lacking basic literacy skills. Here, some 23 percent of residents can’t read or write at basic levels. Close behind is New York state, with 22 percent of residents who lack basic literacy skills.

These two states, though, are far from alone when it comes to literacy problems. In Texas, for instance, a too-large 19 percent of the population struggles with literacy, while in Florida, that number stands at 20 percent. In New Jersey and Georgia, 17 percent of residents lack basic literacy skills. In Hawaii, a total of 16 percent of the population can say the same thing.

Several states in the country, of course, boast low illiteracy rates. Minnesota and New Hampshire lead the way. In both states, only 6 percent of the population lacks basic literacy skills.

Other states close behind include Maine, Vermont, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota. In each of these states, 7 percent of the population struggle with basic reading and writing skills.

Across the globe, illiteracy remains a serious problem in many of the world’s poorest countries. In the poorest countries in Africa, for instance, the vast majority of residents struggle to read and write.

Illiteracy tends to be less of a problem in the country’s wealthiest nations. The United States, for instance, has a literacy rate of more than 97 percent. Canada, Australia and most of Europe can say the same.

The United States’ southern neighbor, Mexico, also boasts a high literacy rate—over 90 percent.

Here’s one more interesting fact about illiteracy and language skills: More than 50 percent of NASA employees are dyslexic. There’s a reason for this, though; NASA seeks out people who are dyslexic because they have superior problem-solving skills and 3D spatial awareness.

If you’re interested in making a difference when it comes to illiteracy, check with your local library. Many of them are looking for volunteers to teach adults how to read and write. It’s a good way to help make a difference in the world.

Students face several decisions when they’re debating what college to attend. For many, one of the biggest is whether they should attend a large or a small college or university.

Large and small schools each offer their own advantages and disadvantages. Incoming students need to look at their own needs, personalities and goals to determine which type of school is best for them.

But whatever decision students make, the good news is that the country offers a wide variety of both small and large institutions of higher education.

On the large side, Ohio State University leads the pack: This Midwest university boasts an enrollment of 52,000 students. Following close behind are the University of Minnesota with 51,800 students, University of Florida with 51,700, Arizona State University with 51,400 and University of Texas with 51,100.

On the small-school side, Alaska Bible College has an enrollment of just 38 students, making it the smallest school in the country. Behind it come Shimer College, 81 students; Thomas More College, 84; Sterling College, 105; and Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, 151.

How do costs compare at large and small colleges?

At Ohio State University, Ohio residents attending classes on a full-time basis at the university’s Columbus campus spend $8,706 in tuition a semester. Non-residents attending the same campus spend $22,278 in tuition every semester. Room-and-board costs an additional $8,409 every semester here.

At Alaska Bible College, the costs are lower. Students here spend $3,420 a semester to take 12 to 18 credits. Room-and-board costs average $2,700 a semester.

It’s important to note, though, that not every large university comes with the same tuition and room-and-board costs as does Ohio State University, while not every small college has the same fee and tuition schedule as does Alaska Bible College.

Costs aren’t the only factors that students should consider when debating whether to attend a large or small university. There are also several pros and cons associated with each type of school that students need to study.

The pros of attending a large university include the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of majors and the chance to study in well-stocked campus libraries. Large universities also boast many housing options for students and well-funded sports programs. Many larger schools are home to famous and well-respected professors. These schools also offer a wide range of academic and social opportunities.

On the negative side, though, large universities are often cursed with large class sizes, while many teaching assistants, not professors, teach classes. Many professors at large schools are preoccupied with their own research or with getting published; they often don’t interact with their students. Students enrolling at large universities must also deal with more red tape and bureaucratic rules. It’s easy, too, for students to get lost in the crowd when attending a larger university.

Small colleges come with their own sets of pros and cons. On the pro side, smaller colleges offer students the chance to experience hands-on learning. The advisors at these schools often get to know their students more closely. Small schools also foster a sense of community among their student bodies. Most professors at these universities teach their own classes. Students have more of an opportunity to get to know their professors outside the classroom.

On the negative side, most small colleges offer a limited number of majors and housing options. These schools have smaller library systems and fewer entertainment and social options.

Choosing the right college is never an easy task for new students. By narrowing down whether they want to attend a large or small university, though, new students can at least boost their odds of finding the right school for their needs.

Across the globe, college students are studying important information. They’re mastering the basics of electrical engineering, puzzling over mathematical equations or tackling the ins and outs of the high-stakes business.

Then there are the students learning about surfing. Or UFOs.

Colleges are home to some amazing courses. They’re also home to some that are amazingly useless. Here is a look at some of the most useless courses that students are paying tens of thousands of dollars to study.

David Beckham Studies is a real course, focusing on the soccer star, at Staffordshire University in the United Kingdom. At Melbourne University, students can receive a doctorate in UFOlogy. That’s right, students earning this degree will become experts in flying saucers.

At Occidental College, students can take a course called, simply, The Phallus. And at Melbourne and Plymouth, instructors actually teach Surfing Studies. Queer Musicology is offered at UCLA, and Georgetown University offers its own Star Trek course. Both Birmingham University and Florida Gulf Coast University offer Golf Management.

For those interested in a bit of sorcery, Frostburg University offers a course titled The Science of Harry Potter. And at Pitzer College, students can enroll in a class called Learning from YouTube.

Of course, not all of the most useless college courses are weird ones. Some very traditional college degrees simply won’t help students find much work in the real world. Countless colleges, after all, offer doctorates of philosophy. There isn’t much demand, though, for philosophy majors in the real world. Then there’s art history. It’s a degree you can find at many colleges. But do employers, who aren’t art schools, actually look for art history majors?

This is just the beginning. Universities are also home to some of the strangest and most politically correct courses you can image.
For instance, students can sign up for a course such as Nonviolent Responses to Terrorism or CyberFeminism. Other colleges offer courses titled Taking Marx Seriously, American Dreams/American Fallacies, Blackness and Whiteness: The Other Side of Racism.

There’s even one college that offers this rather lengthily titled class: Mail Order Brides, Understanding the Philippines in Southeast Asian Context.

Some college degrees aren’t useless. But many won’t nab students a strong salary. That includes such traditionally low-paying degrees as social work, elementary education, theology, music, Spanish, horticulture, education, hospitality/tourism and fine arts and drama.

Students who are interested in the big bucks after education should focus on engineering. The best-paying college degrees are petroleum engineering, aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, nuclear engineering, applied mathematics, biomedical engineering, physics, computer engineering and economics.

We often read about the sorry state of education in the United States. It might be surprising to many to learn, then, that a rising number of international students are flocking to the country to study at our top institutions of higher education.

The number of international students studying at U.S. colleges and universities is on the rise. In fact, 763,133 international students are currently working toward degrees in U.S. schools.

For a sense of how large that number is, consider this: The number of international students at U.S. institutions of higher education is largely than the number of residents living in Austin, Texas. These students must be here for a reason. Perhaps the quality of education that U.S. college students receive is on par with higher education across the globe?

Whatever the reason, students from across the globe are heading to U.S. colleges to study everything from business to engineering to performing arts.

The largest number of international students come from China, which supplies about 121,000 students to U.S. colleges and universities. In second place comes South Korea, with about 105,000 students. Rounding out the top five are India, with about 101,000 students; Japan: 30,000 students; and Canada with 30,000.

The majority of these international students attend classes in six different states. Overall, California, Illinois, Texas, New York, Massachusetts and Florida host 51 percent of the country’s international students.

Here’s how these states break down: California universities and colleges host 129,721 international students. New York’s institutions of higher learning teach 94,600 international students. Texas is home to 57,812 international students while Massachusetts plays host to 39,098.

Florida universities and colleges boast 33,977 international students, while Illinois’ have 33,177.

These students often major in business, management or marketing. These fields claim a total of 158,000 international students. Coming in second is engineering, with about 100,000 students from other countries. The fields of computer and informational sciences claim another 48,000 of these students, while about 40,000 study for jobs in the health professions and related fields. About 39,000 international students are in the United States taking liberal arts and humanities classes.

Finally, international students are flocking to colleges scattered across the United States. New York University, though, claims the greatest number of international students with 11,435. Coming in second is University of Southern California, which hosts 7,252 international students.

The Midwest’s Purdue University brings 6,469 international students to Indiana, while the University of Illinois brings an additional 5,980 international students. Finally, Columbia University also boasts a large number of students from other countries, 5,818.

You’re ready to enter college. Now you have a big decision to make: What degree should you pursue?

It’s an important question. Obtaining a college degree is no inexpensive matter. The typical college student who earns a bachelor’s degree graduates with more than $20,000 in student loan debt. That’s a big financial burden.

It’s important, then, for students to look carefully at the various degree programs that colleges offer. Some might simply not be worth the cost.

Certain bachelor’s degrees tend to bring more money. For instance, students who graduate with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering can expect to earn an average annual salary of $51,600 in their first year in the workforce. This makes this degree the most lucrative bachelor’s.

Following closely behind are mechanical engineering, which brings graduates an average of $51,000 in their first year of work, and chemical engineering, which brings an average starting salary of $50,000. Other science-based bachelor’s degrees also pay well: Students graduating with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering earn an average of $47,600 in their first year out of school, while those with a degree in computer science can expect to earn an average of $47,500 in their first year in the workforce.

Other high-earning degrees include finance ($42,200), accounting ($41,300), marketing ($38,300), supply chain ($41,500), nursing ($42,300), mathematics ($43,600) and agriculture ($37,300).

Overall, of course, earning a college degree, any degree, does tend to bring in larger salaries. Students who earn a two-year associate’s degree, for instance, earn an average yearly salary of $36,200. Those who earn bachelor’s degrees earn an average annual income of $39,900.

The salaries go up as the degrees become more intense. Those who earn a master’s degree in accounting, for instance, earn an average of $49,100 a year, while those who earn a master’s degree in computer science bring home an average of $57,100 annually. Graduates who earn master’s degrees in business administration can look forward to an annual average salary of $56,800, while those who gain a doctorate in engineering earn an average annual salary of $68,900.

Employers today are more interested in certain degrees. A total of 32 percent of employers, for instance, are looking for graduates with accounting degrees, while 28 percent seek those with degrees in finance. Also popular are computer science degrees, with 24 percent of companies looking, and 29 percent of employers saying that they are looking for any business degree.

The current economic woes have brought some significant changes in what employers are looking for from college graduates. In today’s economic climate, flexibility has become a much desired trait. Employers want college graduates who can adapt to a changing business world, and who have a bunch of technical skills and essential softer skills.

Those students who graduate in most technical fields, including many engineering disciplines, might find the job market a bit stingy. Employers report that technical hiring, except for those graduates with computer science degrees, is down across the board.

The demand for business majors remains largely unchanged, except when it comes to accounting. Businesses are actually hiring fewer accounting majors today.