Even the greatest minds in the STEM world had to start somewhere. Before these STEMers became famous for their genius ideas and inventions, they all went to college.

Check out what universities boast the best alumni!

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College: University of California at Santa Barbara

Who: Carol W. Greider Greider originally wanted to study marine biology, but her interest soon switched to biology and biochemistry. During college, she first developed her interest in cells and DNA and went to grad school at Berkley after graduating from UCSB. She now works at Johns Hopkins.

STEM Field: Science

Fun Fact: In 2009, Greider won the Nobel Prize, along with her colleagues Elizabeth H. Blackburn and Jack W. Szostak, for their research in DNA

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College: University of Texas

Who: Michael Dell Creator of Dell Inc., Dell is one of the wealthiest and most famous men in his field. The combination of his desire to provide quality customer service and lower prices while delivering excellent technology placed his company among the top immediately.

STEM Field: Technology 

Fun Fact: Dell first began his technology empire in his dorm room at UT and eventually dropped out of school to focus on his business

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College: Columbia University 

Who: Leon Moisseiff Originally from Latvia, Moisseiff came to the U.S. in the 1890s and graduated from Columbia University soon after with a degree in civil engineering. He joined the New York Department of Bridges and was a foremost suspension bridge builder throughout the early 1900s.

STEM Field: Engineering

Fun Fact: Moisseiff helped design both the Manhattan Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge

 

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College: Carnegie Mellon University

Who: John Forbes Nash Nash concentrated on game theory and economics, earning the respect of his peers and the world with his intelligence in both areas. Though he struggled with mental illness throughout his life, he still taught at Princeton – where he resides today.

STEM Field: Math 

Fun Fact: Nash won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1994

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College: Rockefeller University 

Who: David Baltimore Baltimore has focused on cancer throughout his career and notably made significant strides in the fight against HIV. He’s currently teaching at California Institute of Technology.

STEM Field: Science

Fun Fact: President Clinton awarded Baltimore the National Medal of Science in 1999

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College: University of Michigan

Who: Frances Allen Allen helped lay the groundwork for many significant discoveries in the field of technology. Her main focus is on optimizing compilers.

STEM Field: Technology

Fun Fact: Allen became the first IBM Fellow in 1989 and worked with the NSA

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College: Stanford University

Who: Larry Page Page co-founded Google in 1998. He studied computer engineering at Stanford, where he met Sergey Brin, the other founder of the famous search engine.

STEM Field: Engineering

Fun Fact: In September 2013, Page was ranked #13 on the Forbes 400 list.

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College: University of Chicago

Who: Euphemia Haynes Haynes focused her career on education, teaching in Washington D.C. and becoming the first female chairman of the D.C. School Board. She later built up the math department at Miner Teachers College. She was awarded a Papal medal in 1959.

STEM Field: Math

Fun Fact: Haynes was the first African-American female to get a Ph.D in math

Looking for more colleges with the best staff? Check out the colleges with the best math professors!