Hard work and dedication propelled these people to the CEO positions they hold today, but they all received an education that put them on the path for professional success. The leaders who run the top companies in the nation attended a variety of schools to build a strong academic foundation. See where the CEOs at the top 10 Fortune 500 companies got their start.

Title and Company: CEO and president, Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

Fortune rank: 1

Degree: B.S., Business Adminstration

College: University of Arkansas

US News rank: 133 (tie), National Universities

Title and Company: CEO and chairman, Exxon Mobil Corp.

Fortune rank: 2

Degree: B.S., Electrical Engineering

US News rank: 69 (tie), National Universities

Title and Company: CEO and chairman, Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

Fortune rank: 3

Degree: B.S., Business Adminstration

College: University of Nebraska – Lincoln

US News rank: 124 (tie), National Universities

Title and Company: Chairman and Ceo, Apple Inc.

Fortune rank: 4

Degree: B.S., Industrial Engineering

College: Auburn University

US News rank: 103 (tie), National Universities

Title and Company: CEO and chairman, UnitedHealth Group Inc.

Fortune rank: 5

Degree: B.S., Accounting

College: Illinois State University

US News rank: 159 (tie), National Universities

Title and Company: CEO, president and chariman, McKesson Corp.

Fortune rank: 6

Degree: B.A., Business Administration

US News rank: 69 (tie), National Universities

Title and Company: CEO and president, CVS Health Corp.

Fortune rank: 7

Degree: B.S., Pharmacy

College: University of Pittsburgh

US News rank: 68, National Universities

Title and Company: Chairman, president and CEO, Amazon.com.

Fortune rank: 8

Degree: B.S., Computer Science and Electrical Engineering

College: Princeton University

US News rank: 1, National Universities

Title and Company: CEO, chairman and president, AT&T Inc.

Fortune rank: 9

Degree: B.S., Accounting

US News rank: 76 (tie), Regional Universities (West)