Do CEOs Even Care About Degrees Anymore?

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Published August 29, 2025 5:12 AM PDT

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Do CEOs Still Value Degrees—or Have Skills Taken Over?

Every day, aspiring professionals ask: Does that shiny diploma really set you apart—or can real-world skills and experience get you further? As education costs climb and industries evolve, some of the world’s top CEOs are rethinking what credentials truly matter. Let’s examine what leaders are saying—and doing.

What Do Current CEOs Say About Degrees?

Palantir CEO: Real-World Impact Beats Prestige

Palantir’s CEO, Alex Karp, recently underscored that elite college credentials mean little once someone joins the company. “[Once you come to Palantir]… no one cares” about where a person studied; what matters is real contribution and performance [2].

Apple & Nvidia CEOs: Skills Over Diplomas

Apple CEO Tim Cook has acknowledged that almost half of Apple’s U.S. workforce in 2019 didn’t hold a four-year degree, noting that collaboration and coding aptitude often matter more than formal education [1].
Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, meanwhile, mused that if he were starting college today, he might choose a different field—emphasizing the changing relevance of traditional education in tech [1].

Which Top CEOs Lack College Degrees?

The roster of high-performing CEOs without degrees is long and storied:

  • Bill Gates (Microsoft), Mark Zuckerberg (Meta), and Steve Jobs (Apple) famously dropped out of college to build tech empires [3].

  • Michael Dell, Richard Branson, and Amancio Ortega (Inditex) similarly succeeded without formal university credentials [3].

  • In today’s corporate world, many remain degree-free. A study found approximately 10% of Fortune 50 CEOs never attended or dropped out of college—brands like SentinelOne are even led by leaders who found college “a waste of precious time” [3].

So, Do Degrees Still Count—or Are Skills Winning?

The short answer: Yes, CEOs still value degrees—but not as much as before. Formal education often signals work ethic and critical thinking ability; yet, today, actionable skills and proven performance are increasingly powerful indicators of potential.

A Business Insider report found that while degree requirements remain common, they’re increasingly misaligned with recruitment goals: only 1 in 700 hires were made strictly based on skills in 2023 [4].

Meanwhile, industries facing skills gaps—especially in AI and green tech—are shifting to skill-based hiring. An academic study analyzing UK job data found a 15% drop in degree requirements for AI roles between 2018 and 2023. AI skills, rather than diplomas, were commanding higher wage premiums [5].

Degrees vs. Demonstration

Still believe a degree is the only path to leadership? Think again. Many CEOs now say: show me your skills, creativity, and impact—not just your alma mater. For emerging professionals, that opens multiple pathways. Focus on building real expertise. For companies, it means auditing hiring practices to ensure they're not overlooking passionate talent. In today’s landscape, action speaks louder than degrees.

Related: Where to Go to College if You Want to Become a CEO (And What to Study)

Sources

  1. Investopedia — Karp, Cook, Huang on education and skills

  2. Economic Times — Palantir CEO Alex Karp downplays elite degrees

  3. New York Post — Companies hiring without degree requirements; Thiel grants and dropouts celebrated

  4. Business Insider — Degree-based hiring remains widespread despite skills argument

  5. ArXiv Academia — Study on skill-based hiring growth in AI and green jobs

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    By CEO TodayAugust 29, 2025

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