George Santos graduated from Baruch College

George Santos graduated from Baruch College
	FALSE
	"George Santos, elected to the US House of Representatives from New York in 2022, graduated from Baruch College, earned an MBA from New York University and worked at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup."
Domain	Education & Learning
Tactic	Fabrication; Imposture;
Era	Current
First seen	2020
Origin	Biographical claims made by George Santos in his campaign materials and public statements during his 2020 and 2022 congressional campaigns
Last reviewed	2026-10-27
	Further reading: books on Education & Learning

The claim that George Santos graduated from Baruch College was part of a resume that helped him win a seat in Congress in November 2022. His campaign biography said he had graduated from Baruch College in 2010, earned an MBA from New York University and worked at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup. Weeks after his election, The New York Times reported that neither school could confirm he had attended, and that the two banks had no record of him. Santos admitted that he had not graduated from any college and had not worked directly for those firms. The episode became one of the most prominent cases of credential fabrication by an elected official.

The claim

Santos's campaign website described him as a "seasoned Wall Street financier and investor" with degrees from Baruch College and NYU. He also claimed he had been a standout volleyball player at Baruch. These claims were repeated in profiles and campaign materials.

Origin

Santos, a Republican, ran unsuccessfully for New York's 3rd congressional district in 2020 and won it in 2022. Local newspaper the North Shore Leader raised questions about his finances before the election, but the claims did not receive wide attention until after he won.

What the evidence shows

Investigation. On December 19, 2022, The New York Times reported that Baruch College could find no record of anyone matching Santos's name and birthdate graduating in 2010, that NYU could not find a record of his attendance, and that Goldman Sachs and Citigroup had no record of his employment.
Admission. In interviews in December 2022, Santos said he had not graduated from any institution of higher learning and that he had "embellished" his resume. He said his work with Goldman Sachs and Citigroup had been through another firm.
Other claims. Reporters found further false or unsupported biographical claims, including about his family history and his attendance at a private high school.
Consequences. A House Ethics Committee investigation found substantial evidence of wrongdoing. The House voted to expel Santos on December 1, 2023. He later pleaded guilty in federal court to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft related to campaign finances.

Why it persists

Credential claims are rarely checked closely in down-ballot races, and local news coverage has shrunk. Voters and party officials often take resumes at face value. The case illustrates how impressive credentials can lend authority to a candidate.

Lessons for readers

Educational credentials can be verified through registrars or the National Student Clearinghouse.
Local journalism plays an important role in vetting candidates.
A detailed, impressive biography is not evidence of its own truth.
Look for independent confirmation of claims about employers and degrees.
Fabricated credentials are often accompanied by other false claims.

Sources

Grace Ashford and Michael Gold, "Who Is Rep.-Elect George Santos? His Résumé May Be Largely Fiction," The New York Times, December 19, 2022.
US House Committee on Ethics, Investigative Subcommittee report on Representative George Santos, November 16, 2023.
US Department of Justice, Eastern District of New York, press release on George Santos guilty plea, August 19, 2024.