The most (and least) intelligent US presidents based on their IQ scores

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The most (and least) intelligent US presidents based on their IQ scores©Getty Images

While we understand that intelligence is more than just a number, IQ tests can still offer insights into how someone's mind works, especially when chatting face-to-face isn't an option. Back in 2006, Professor Dean Simonton from the University of California, Davis, couldn't resist the curiosity. He conducted a study to estimate the IQ scores of all U.S. presidents, from George Washington to George W. Bush.
Curious about the recent U.S. presidents' scores as well? The website 'Ranker' and 'Sociosite' (Social site information system from the University of Amsterdam) published the IQ scores. Keep reading to find out!

 

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Gerald Ford©Getty Images

Gerald Ford, the 38th U.S. President, rocked an IQ of 127.08. Not only did he roll through Yale Law School, but he pulled it off while coaching the varsity football team.

 

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Calvin Coolidge©Getty Images

The 30th president, often called Silent Cal, was known for being smart with an IQ of 127.1. People liked him because he believed in equal rights. Some blame him for the Great Depression, though. He went to Amherst College in Massachusetts and did really well.

 

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Harry Truman©Getty Images

Even though Harry Truman, the 33rd president of the United States, was smart with an IQ of 127.55, he didn't finish college. Truman had a tough time because he was blind in one eye, which made it hard for him to keep up. As a result, he left college after only a year.

 

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Lyndon B. Johnson©Getty Images

Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th president who took over after John F. Kennedy was assassinated, was really smart with an IQ of 127.83. He loved learning and was a dedicated student throughout his life. When he was in 11th grade, he became the president of his class. Later, he went to what is now Texas State University, where he studied and earned a teaching certificate along with a bachelor's degree in history.

 

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Encik Biden IQ is 180 when he is fully awake , but 18 when he is lost in this thoughts

 

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Herbert Hoover©Getty Images

Herbert Hoover, the 31st president during the tough times of the Great Depression, wasn't very well-liked, but he was hardworking and accomplished from a young age. Hoover, with an IQ of 129.78, was into geology at Stanford. Even while studying, he managed to start his own business taking care of other students' laundry on the side.

 

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Ronald Reagan©Getty Images

Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States, had a smart mind with an IQ score of 130. However, he wasn't very keen on school and finished college with an average grade of C. Instead of following a traditional path, Reagan ventured into radio and film careers before eventually getting into politics.

 

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George H.W. Bush / William McKinley©Getty Images

The 25th and 41st presidents both had an IQ score of 130.13, but their education stories were quite different. McKinley chose to join the Union in the Civil War after only a year in college. In contrast, Bush graduated from Yale University in just two and a half years, doing exceptionally well academically as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Besides, he took on the role of fraternity president and led the university's baseball team.

 

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James K. Polk©Getty Images

James K. Polk, the 11th president of the United States, was quite smart with an IQ of 130.2, and he used it to full advantage. Regarded as one of the most successful presidents, Polk fulfilled all his campaign promises and extended the U.S. border all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

 

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These are just estimates.

 

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Grover Cleveland©Getty Images

Grover Cleveland, who served as both the 22nd and 24th president of the United States, holds the unique distinction of being the only president with non-consecutive terms. Unlike many presidents, Cleveland didn't attend college due to financial constraints. However, with an IQ of 130.95, he was self-taught in law and managed to pass the bar exam without any formal guidance.

 

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Richard Nixon©Getty Images

Before the Watergate scandal tarnished his legacy, Richard Nixon, the 37th President, was an excellent student. Despite his family's financial difficulties, Nixon, with an IQ of 131, excelled academically. He earned a bachelor's degree in history with honors from Whittier University and went on to attend Duke Law School on a scholarship.

 

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Dwight D. Eisenhower©Getty Images

Even with an impressive IQ score of 131.9, Dwight D. Eisenhower showed little interest in education during his youth. While at West Point Military Academy, where he would later become the 34th president, Eisenhower was a below-average student and had several disciplinary infractions.

 

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Benjamin Harrison©Getty Images

Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president of the United States, may not be widely remembered, but he was one of the smartest with an IQ score of 132.15. Despite facing criticism for his extensive federal funding, Harrison was ahead of his time by attempting (though unsuccessfully) to enforce African-American voting rights at the close of the 19th century.

 

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George Washington©Getty Images

The first president of the United States, George Washington, is believed to have had an IQ score of 132.5, but he never received more than an elementary school education. Nevertheless, Washington became a skilled surveyor by the age of 17 and a military commander by the age of 23.

 

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Martin Van Buren©Getty Images

Martin Van Buren, the eighth president of the United States, is unique in presidential history for being the only one to have learned English as a second language. He was also the first president not to come from an English background. Despite not being frequently remembered in modern times, Van Buren, with an IQ of 133.35, hailed from a humble Dutch family in New York.

 

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Rutherford B. Hayes / William Henry Harrison©Getty Images

William Henry Harrison, the ninth president, and Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th president, shared an estimated IQ score of 133.93. Unfortunately, Harrison's presidency was short-lived, lasting only 30 days, as he fell seriously ill after his inauguration. On the other hand, Hayes, a former lawyer, was passionate about defending the rights of formerly enslaved people who had escaped from the Southern states before serving as president.

 

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Franklin Pierce©Getty Images

Franklin Pierce, despite having an IQ score of 134.78, is often considered one of the worst and most destructive presidents in history. He was an average and unremarkable student before becoming president. Unfortunately, Pierce's presidency is marked by aggressive expansionist and anti-abolitionist policies that are seen as contributing directly to the onset of the Civil War.

 

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Millard Fillmore©Getty Images

Millard Fillmore, the 13th president of the United States, had an estimated IQ of 135.98, which surely came in handy as he tried to make his way as a formally uneducated young man. From these humble beginnings, Fillmore became a lawyer and then president in 1850, without any education.