The claim that Joe Biden graduated 76th academically in a class of 85 students at Syracuse University College of Law in 1968 is true. The claim resurfaced in April 2024 as a meme that went viral on social media platforms including Facebook. The meme featured an old photo of Joe Biden with the words “Graduated 76th in a Class of 85.” This fact was confirmed by various reputable news sources from the late 1980s, including The Associated Press, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. The picture included in the meme showed Biden with the former president of the University of Scranton, Rev. William J. Byron, during a commencement ceremony in 1976.
The Syracuse University College of Law Alumni Association once published a letter acknowledging Biden’s low academic ranking in his graduating class. Despite his less than stellar academic performance, the letter highlighted the fact that statistics are not always an accurate predictor of one’s abilities or prospects. It was noted that Biden’s life and career took off after leaving Syracuse University College of Law. This topic has been previously addressed by Snopes, which also reported on Biden’s false claim that he finished in the “top half” of his class at Syracuse. Other false claims about Biden’s past, including a plagiarism scandal, reportedly influenced his decision to drop out of the 1988 presidential race.
Snopes reached out to Syracuse University College of Law to request records related to Biden’s academic performance. The article mentions that they would update the story if any further details were provided by the university. The sources cited in the article include news articles from the late 1980s that reported on Biden’s academic history and false claims he made about his academic performance. Additionally, information from the Syracuse University College of Law Alumni Association and news reports from the University of Scranton were also included in the sources.
The controversial claim about Joe Biden’s academic performance has been a topic of discussion for years, with the facts confirming that he indeed graduated 76th in a class of 85 at Syracuse University College of Law. Despite his academic standing, Biden’s career flourished after leaving law school. The article highlights the importance of verifying information shared on social media platforms and relying on reputable sources to fact-check claims. The fact that this claim resurfaced in the lead-up to the U.S. elections underscores the need for accurate information to be disseminated to the public.
