Abstract
Though the importance of college is well recognized (Heckert & Wallace, 1998; Arney, Hardeback, Estrada & Permenter, 2006), there continues to be debate about whether a specific major or choice of college affects a person's future success as measured by position and/or compensation. As college costs have risen faster than income (Anonymous, 2008;Tozzi, 2009), parents and school counselors are increasing efforts to find the most affordable, yet worthwhile, options for higher education. This research was undertaken to investigate whether there is a relationship among the many variables that a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) possesses on the way to leading a large company. Obviously, environment, the education of one's parents, opportunity, family wealth, and geography all play a part. But, should today's high school students put more or less emphasis on choice of college or major and do those factors have a correlation with their eventual career success as CEO of a Fortune 500 Company? College websites work hard to promote the success of their graduates. When a Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, neither one of whom have college degrees, enters the realm of spectacular success, "Johnny's" parents might do well to look at his or her own development rather than a particular institution of higher education. (Contains 14 tables and 1 figure.)