Top 21 Universities With The Powerful Alumni Network | UPDATED

This post shares the most powerful Alumni Network in the World. These range from men of Influence to men in various sectors of the economy that studied under one roof. Enjoy this educative content on the Top 21 Universities with the powerful Alumni Network 2024.

An alumni association is an association of graduates or, more broadly, of former students in the United Kingdom and the United States, alumni of universities, colleges, schools (especially independent schools), fraternities, and sororities often form groups with alumni from the same organization.

These associations often organize social events, publish newsletters or magazines, and raise funds for the organization.

Many provide various benefits and services that help alumni maintain connections to their educational institutions and fellow graduates. In the US, most associations do not require their members to be university alumni to enjoy membership and privileges. Below we shall list the top 21 universities with a powerful alumni network.

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#1. The University of Georgia Alumni Association

From monthly webinars, online job boards, and networking events in Atlanta and beyond, the University of Georgia has a strong alumni networking system.

The seeds are planted before graduation when the university hosts an alumni career fair for current students to connect with possible future employers from around 100 companies as diverse as State Farm to Dish Network and Morgan Stanley.

NOTABLE ALUMNI

• Kyle Chandler (Actor) 17 September 1965, American
• Ryan Seacrest (Television Show Host & Radio Personality) 24 December 1974, American
• Michael Stipe (Singer-lyricist) 04 January 1960 American
• Alton Brown (TV Personality, Celebrity Chef, Author) 30 July 1962 American
• Sally Yates (Lawyer) 20 August 1960 American
• Lyman Hall (Signer of United States Declaration of Independence) 12 April 1724 American

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#2. The University of Florida Alumni Association

Across the globe, University of Florida alumni stay in touch across the world via the school’s Gator Clubs in all 50 states and spread across 135 different countries. These regional alumni clubs organize host speakers, and cultural and academic activities and offer local networking opportunities.

The UF alumni association also helps young graduates find jobs via social media and website networking channels; alumni are usually eager to help each other out.

NOTABLE ALUMNI

• Mónica Spear (Model, Actress) 01 October 1984 Venezuelan
• Megan Bowen (YouTuber, Actress) 16 May 1989, American
• Adam LZ (YouTuber) 05 May 1995 American
• Brandon Marshall (American football player) 23 March 1984, American
• Francesca Battistelli (Singer, Composer, Pianist, Songwriter) 18 May 1985 American
• Aric Almirola (Racecar driver) 14 March 1984 American

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#3. The Ohio State University Alumni Association

Before graduation, Ohio State university students can log into the Buckeye Careers Network to look for internship opportunities and post-graduation job postings from alumni.

After earning a degree, young alums can count on the school’s alumni association to help with everything from crafting a resume to connecting them with other Buckeyes in the position to hire.

NOTABLE ALUMNI

• Jeffrey Dahmer (Serial Killer, Sex Offender) 21 May 1960 American
• Will Smith (Actor) 25 September 1968 American
• Harlan Ellison (Writer) 27 May 1934, American
• Jesse Owens 12 September 1913, American
• Jack Nicklaus (Golfer) 21 January 1940 American
• L. Stine 08 October 1943 American

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#4. The Pennsylvania State University Alumni Association

Pennsylvania State University has one of the largest alumni networks in the U.S., with a base that includes more than 645,000 people worldwide. As such, students say when seeking jobs they often have an edge because alums will seek out Penn State grads for jobs at their companies.

Alums can also take advantage of virtual networking events, career fairs, regional happy hours, and more.

SOME NOTABLE ALUMNI

• Laurene Powell Jobs (Businesswoman, Widow of Steve Jobs) 06 November 1963 American
• Ross Ulbricht (Drug Trafficker) 27 March 1984 American
• Immortal Technique (Hip Hop Singer) 19 February 1978 American
• David Bohm (Scientist) 20 December 1917 American
• Jerry Greenfield (Entrepreneur) 14 March 1951 American
• Tom Ridge (Former Governor of Pennsylvania, Former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives) 26 August 1945 American
• David Morrell (Writer, Screenwriter, University teacher) 24 April 1943, American
• Iris Marion Young (Political scientist, Philosopher, University teacher) 02 January 1949, American
• Diane Ackerman (Poet, Author, Writer) 07 October 1948 American
• Julius J. Epstein (Screenwriter) 22 August 1909 American
• Roland G. Fryer, Jr. 04 June 1977 America

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#5. The University of Virginia Alumni Association

At the University of Virginia, recent grads can meet other alumni in their city at networking parties organized by the Young Alumni Council and school-sponsored reunions.

UVA, which counts Katie Couric and Tina Fey among its most famous alums, really emphasizes curating connections that lead to job opportunities for its newest alumni.

SOME NOTABLE ALUMNI

• Robert F. Kennedy (Brother of President John F. Kennedy) 20 November 1925, American
• Tina Fey (American actress) 18 May 1970, American
• Laura Ingraham (Radio Host, Author and Political Commentator) 19 June 1964, American
• Woodrow Wilson (Father of the League of Nations) 28 December 1856, American
• William Faulkner (Writer, Nobel Laureate) 25 September 1897, American
• Georgia O’Keeffe (Artist) 15 November 1887 American
• John W. Snow (Former United States Secretary of the Treasury) 02 August 1939 American
• Hanan Ashrawi (Palestinian legislator) 08 October 1946 Palestinian
• Gesine Bullock-Prado (Chef, Lawyer) 06 March 1970 American
• Michael LeMoyne Kennedy (Lawyer) 27 February 1958, American
• Richard E. Byrd (Explorer, Officer, Oceanographer, Aviator) 25 October 1888 American
• Max Kennedy (Lawyer) 11 January 1965 America

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#7. The Southern Methodist University Alumni Association

From former first lady, Laura Bush to Academy Award-winning actress Kathy Bates and the founder of Toms Shoes Blake Mycoskie, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas has a diverse and distinguished alumni pool for graduates to network with.

The school hosts a career and internship fair each spring open to current students and young alumni and aims to match them with top companies from Oracle to AT&T.

Post-graduation, students can network through the SMU’s web portal and also via their strong social media presence, including on LinkedIn, considered the most valuable of the professional networks, and regional club events across the country and back on campus.

SOME NOTABLE ALUMNI.

• Kourtney Kardashian (Model, Reality Star) 18 April 1979, American
• Jayne Mansfield 19 April 1933, American
• Lauren Graham. 16 March 1967 America
• Kathy Bates (Actress and film director) 28 June 1948, American
• Hope Hicks (PR Consultant) 21 October 1988 American
• Rick Scott (45th Governor of Florida) 01 December 1952 American
• Laura Bush (Former First Lady) 04 November 1946 American
• Dorothy Malone (Actress) 29 January 1924, American
• Aaron Spelling (Film and television producer) 22 April 1923, American
• Bill Fagerbakke (Actor, Voice Actor) 04 October 1957 American
• L. Hunt (Businessman) 17 February 1889 American
• James Cronin (Physicist) 29 September 1931, American
• Payne Stewart (Golfer) 30 January 1957 American
• Josh McCown (American football player) 04 July 1979, American
• Jay McGraw (Television director, Taekwondo athlete) 12 September 1979, American
• Trammell Crow (Art collector, Rancher) 10 June 1914 American

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#8. The Claremont Mckenna College Alumni Association

Claremont McKenna gives current students a running start when navigating the post-graduation job world through its Mentor Connect program. The formal 10-week program hooks undergrads up with alumni working in a field that interests them.

Internships also can play an integral part in getting a job in the real world, and Claremont McKenna also maintains a large internship database for students to apply to.

Post-graduation, the alumni association organizes more than 200 events worldwide each year.

These happen through regional clubs, homecoming weekends back on campus, and the alumni travel program. The latter is a cool concept that not all schools offer. Still, it allows alums to connect through an organized, educationally focused (usually led by a Claremont professor) and themed trip to a foreign destination – recent adventures included studying WWII in England and France and cruises to the Galapagos Islands.

SOME NOTABLE ALUMNI

• Robin Williams Screenwriter, Actor
• Randy Steven Kraft Randy Steven Kraft is an American serial killer known as the “Scorecard Killer” and the “Freeway Killer”
• Benjamin Cruz Politician, Lawyer
• Michael Arrington Editor, Journalist
• Thomas Pritzker Businessperson
• George R. Roberts Businessperson, Entrepreneur
• David Dreier Politician
• Francisco Vázquez Scholar
• Chuck DeVore Businessperson, Politician

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#9. The Princeton University Alumni Association

Michelle Obama is one of Princeton’s superstar alumni, and the Ivy League school has an active network of former students eager to help out new grads in various fields, from tech to teaching.

The school runs a TigerNet website that requires log-in and lets graduates search for information on other alums and post and directly apply for jobs.

Princeton’s Alumni Association also runs the usual regional clubs and events back at the school, like class reunions, homecoming weekends, and even career conferences.

Princeton alumni are also known for donating more than time back to their alma mater. According to the US News, more than 62 percent of Princeton alums also give money, in some of around $400 million collectively, to the school each year.

SOME NOTABLE ALUMNI

• Jeff Bezos (Founder of Amazon.com) 12 January 1964 American
• John F. Kennedy (35th President of the United States) 29 May 1917 American
• Alan Turing (Computer Scientist) 23 June 1912 British
• Robert Mueller (Former Director of FBI, Attorney) 07 August 1944 American
• Brooke Shields (Actress and Model) 31 May 1965 American
• Michelle Obama (First Lady of the United States) 17 January 1964 American
• Woodrow Wilson (Father of the League of Nations) 28 December 1856 American
• John Forbes Nash Jr. (Mathematician) 13 June 1928 American
• Wentworth Miller (Actor) 02 June 1972 British, American
• Sonia Sotomayor (Judge) 25 June 1954 American
• Richard Feynman (Physicist) 11 May 1918 American
• James Stewart 20 May 1908 American
• David Duchovny 07 August 1960 American

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#10. The St. Lawrence University Alumni Association

A small liberal arts school in New York, St. Lawrence has a very enthusiastic alumni network, with graduates actively participating in programs with current students and young alums.

The school runs a Shadow a Saint program that matches undergraduates with an alumni mentor in their desired field of study to shadow for up to a week.

After graduation, the alumni association helps recent grads connect through regional clubs and virtual networking.

SOME NOTABLE ALUMNI

• Kirk Douglas Businessperson, Soldier
• Viggo Mortensen Painter, Poet
• Olympia Brown
• Owen D. Young Businessperson, Politician
• Susan Collins Businessperson, Politician
• Eleanor Mondale Radio personality, Actor
• Edwin J. Taylor Educator
• Gerald B. H. Solomon Businessperson, Politician
• Gina Kingsbury Ice Hockey Player

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#11. The Harvard University Alumni Association

Speaking of wealth, the school with the country’s wealthiest alumni overall is Harvard University, the oldest university in the U.S., founded back in 1636.

The school’s wealthiest alums are worth a combined $622 billion, and the school counts 52 billionaires among its graduates, the highest number of all the universities,

according to ABC News. They also give back to the school, with alumni giving at 37%.

Along with all this money, connections at Harvard go deeper than in nearly any other school, and graduates often feel like members of a very exclusive club.

The Harvard Alumni Association maintains its web portal and a social media presence on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and encourages other upcoming students.

SOME NOTABLE ALUMNI

• Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Associate Justice of US Supreme Court) 15 March 1933 American
• John F. Kennedy (35th President of the United States) 29 May 1917, American
• Natalie Portman (Actress, Producer, Director) 09 June 1981 Israeli, American
• Mark Zuckerberg (Co-founder of Facebook, Computer Programmer) 14 May 1984 American
• Ted Kaczynski (Terrorist, Anarchist) 22 May 1942 American
• Robert F. Kennedy (Brother of President John F. Kennedy) 20 November 1925, American
• Theodore Roosevelt (26th U.S. President) 27 October 1858, American
• Matt Damon (Actor) 08 October 1970 American
• Amy Poehler (American actress) 16 September 1971, American
• Henry Kissinger (Diplomat, National Security Advisor (America)) 27 May 1923. American
• Leonard Bernstein (Conductor (New York Philharmonic)) 25 August 1918 American

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#12. The Northwestern University Alumni Association

When it comes to earning huge money, Northwestern University graduates rake in a lot of cash. According to ABC News, the 451 wealthiest Northwestern grads are worth a collective $46 billion. After they start earning, Northwestern grads remember their undergraduate roots and tend to give back, with 31 percent of alumni financially contributing to the school.

Alumni financial contributions can be a good indicator of a strong alumni network – the theory being that those who give monetarily will also be invested in helping future students network and find jobs. And at Northwestern, this rings true.

The esteemed university outside Chicago has an active alumni association that hosts networking, mentoring, and ongoing education courses. It also keeps graduates virtually connected through its web portal and social media groups.

Real-life events are also planned throughout the year, both on campus and through the regional alumni club.

SOME NOTABLE ALUMNI

• Meghan Markle. (Actress) 04 August 1981. American
• Zooey Deschanel. (Actress). 17 January 1980. American
• David Schwimmer (Actor. 02 November 1966. American
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Actress) 13 January 1961. American
• Hugh Hefner (founder of Playboy Magazine). 09 April 1926. American
• Stephen Colbert (American comedian) 13 May 1964, American
• Ann-Margret (Actress) 28 April 1941 Swedish, American
• Warren Beatty (Actor) 30 March 1937, American
• Cindy Crawford 20 February 1966, American
• Dermot Mulroney (Actor) 31 October 1963

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#13. The University of Pennsylvania Alumni Association

Founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1740 the University of Pennsylvania counts 25 living billionaires among the graduates from its various schools, including the prestigious Wharton School of Business.

From annual alumni awards to an online book club, the Penn Alumni Association is creative in its networking, which is what you would expect from a school that counts eight Declaration of Independence signers among its most distinguished graduates.

The school’s alumni associate runs QuakerNet, a log-in-required networking site that allows graduates to search for each other and post and apply for jobs.

SOME NOTABLE ALUMNI

• Donald Trump. (45th U.S. President), 14 June 1946. American
• Elon Musk (Entrepreneur, Engineer, Inventor). 28 June 1971. Canadian, American, South African
• Warren Buffett. (Business Magnate, Investor, Philanthropist). 30 August 1930. American
• Elizabeth Banks. (Actress, Producer, and Director). 10 February 1974. American
• Noam Chomsky (Linguist) 07 December 1928 American
• Tiffany Trump (Daughter of Donald Trump) 13 October 1993 American
• Sharon Stone, Sharon Stone, 10 March 1958, American
• Laurene Powell Jobs, (Businesswoman, Widow of Steve Jobs), 06 November 1963, American
• William Henry Harrison 09 February 1773 American
• Abby Huntsman (Journalist, TV Presenter) 01 May 1986 American
• Ezra Pound (Poet) 30 October 1885 American
• Beau Biden (son of Joe Biden) 03 February 1969 American

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#14. The Lehigh University Alumni Association

Lehigh goes out of its way to foster relationships with former students long after graduation.

The alumni here are considered family on the university’s part, and the feeling is reciprocated as alumni go out of their way to work with students even before graduation.

The school hosts events like the Conference of Accounting Professionalism, allowing undergrads to work directly with alumni executives from major firms during a weeklong program.

After graduation, young alums can network in some ways. One option is to join the Lehigh University Alumni Group on

LinkedIn, has more than 10,000 members at this point. The school also hosts regional alumni clubs that at minimum, host annual networking events, known as career networking receptions, where alums have the chance to meet and talk shop in person

with others in their area. These are great way to interact with other alums in person.

SOME NOTABLE ALUMNI

• Don Most. Actor, Voice acting, Businessperson
• John Fitch. Racecar driver, Inventor
• Lester Hogan. Physicist, Inventor
• Jesse W. Reno. Inventor, Engineer
• John-David F. Bartoe Astrophysicist, Astronomer
• Terry Hart. Pilot, Astronaut
• Thomas Duane. Politician
• Roger Penske Businessperson, Race car driver
• Kenneth French. Professor, Economist

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#15. The Wellesley College Alumni Association

Hillary Clinton’s alma mater has a powerful alumni network that includes Diane Sawyer and Madeline Albright.

The private women’s liberal arts college is one of the most competitive in the country to attend. Still, after graduation, these women stick together, helping each other network and get jobs, regardless of how many years have passed since graduation.

The school’s alumnae association offers the usual devoted alumni website and regional networking events but also lets alums

connect based on shared mutual interests. There are alumnae shared interest and discussion groups for nearly everyone: from

alumnae affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders to those in the Peace Corps or Wellesley alums in the military, among others.

SOME NOTABLE ALUMNI

• Hillary Clinton. Spokesperson, Politician
• Diane Sawyer. Journalist, Newsreader
• Elisabeth Shue. Actor
• Ana Alicia. Actor
• Pamela Melroy. Astronaut
• Tammy Lynn Sytch. Wrestler, Actor
• Erna Schneider Hoover. Inventor, Scientist
• Barbara Babcock. Actor
• Madeleine Albright. Politician, Diplomat
• Paula Rosput Reynolds. Businessperson

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#16. The Dartmouth College Alumni Association

After graduating from Dartmouth University, it’s easy to stay connected through the school’s robust alumni network.

Dartmouth maintains a strong social media presence and options for virtual networking, and alumni are active in nearly 100 geographical clubs.

The school’s alumni association also focuses on affiliated and shared interest groups, like an alumni travel program, that offers less obvious networking options.

Alumni love to stay involved with the college and are often willing to talk to current students about careers — and many

have been known to give internships and jobs to Dartmouth students,” a student told the Princeton Review. Big-name Dartmouth graduates include private-equity billionaire Leon Black and screenwriter and actress Mindy Kaling.

SOME NOTABLE ALUMNI

• Dr. Seuss. Illustrator, Poet
• Meryl Streep. Spokesperson, Actor
• Mindy Kaling. Television director, Comedian. Mindy Kaling is an American actress, comedian, writer, and producer.
• Michael Moriarty. Musician, Actor
• Aisha Tyler. Comedian, Screenwriter
• Timothy Geithner. Politician, Economist
• Robert Frost. Poet, Playwright
• Keith Boykin. Editor, Novelist
• Paul Gambaccini, Radio personality, Disc jockey
• Daniel Webster, Statesman, Politician

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#17. The Virginia Polytechnic & State University Alumni Association

Virginia Tech puts a lot of effort into its alumni networking. The school runs the Hokie Nation Network, a web portal for alumni interested in professional networking opportunities with fellow Hokies. They also have a large presence on LinkedIn, with some 124,000 Hokies using the site and the group pages the school has set up to connect.

Additionally, you’ll find alumni clubs across the country and impressive alumni travel clubs. Run by the Virginia Tech Alumni Associate, the global travel tours are open only to alumni and their families and friends.

This allows you not only to travel in an educational group capacity but the networking opportunities that can be leveraged from doing so can be boundless.

SOME NOTABLE ALUMNI

• Robert Coleman Richardson (Physicist), 26 June 1937. American
• Michael Vick (American football player) 26 June 1980. American
• Tyrod Taylor (American football player), 03 August 1989. American
• Bruce Arians, (American football player), born 03 October 1952 in  American
• Nidal Malik Hasan, (Psychiatrist, Soldier), born 08 September 1970 in American
• Lewis Binford, (Anthropologist, Archaeologist, prehistorian, and university teacher), born 11 November 1931 in American

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#18. The Association of Former Students of Texas A&M University

When it comes to displaying school pride post-graduation, few universities can compete with Texas A&M. Aggies are fiercely loyal to their alma mater and will go out of their way to help out other graduates.

This may be through formal networking set up by the school’s alumni association or, Texas-style, casually after running into someone else wearing the famed Aggie graduation ring.

The Association of Former Students manages the official networking for young graduates, helping them create masterful resumes, nail job interviews, and learn how to network in modern society effectively.

They also help connect alumni living in the same cities by hosting happy hours or sporting event meet-ups.

SOME NOTABLE ALUMNI

• Rick Perry
• Johnny Manziel, American football player
• Sammy Davis, American football player
• Rip Torn, Actor, Voice acting
• Lyle Lovett, Record producer, Songwriter
• Cliff Pennington, Baseball player
• Steven Swanson, Flight engineer, Astronaut
• Boone Pickens, Jr. Businessperson, Investor
• Jason Castro, Singer-songwriter, Drummer
• Dahr Jamail, Journalist, Author

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#19. The Gettysburg College Alumni Association

Within a year of graduating from these small liberal arts in Pennsylvania, 98% of students either obtain a job or graduate, according to the school’s website.

It’s an impressive statistic that can be traced, at least in part, to a strong alumni-networking program.

With clubs across the country, graduates get together for regional events, from networking nights to happy hours and cultural performances.

Alumni also play an integral role in mentoring students before graduation by offering everything from summer internships to career advice and on-campus networking receptions to undergraduates.

SOME NOTABLE ALUMNI

• Ron Paul, Stephanie Sellars, Writer
• Ritch Shydner, Comedian, Television producer
• Carol Bellamy, Businessperson, Lawyer
• Michael Bishop, Virologist
• Carson Kressley, Fashion designer, Author
• George M. Leader, Businessperson, Politician
• Jerry Spinelli, Author, Writer
• Fred F. Fielding, Lawyer

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#20. The Colgate University Alumni Association

The small liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York where Becky Bye graduated from has one of the strongest alumni networks in the country and counts many power players among its graduates, including Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Ben Cohen.

Colgate promotes the importance of forming relationships with classmates, faculty, and alumni from the moment a student accepts an admission offer.

“During my time as a student at Colgate, I felt that the alumni network enriched my education, and I witnessed firsthand the willingness of alumni to help students in various aspects,” says Bye. “My first experience with this was when I emailed the then-President of the Columbia University Children’s Hospital (and also a Colgate alum) about my interest in healthcare and pursuing an internship that summer in New York City.

Within days, I landed an internship with a world-renown heart surgeon at Columbia Hospital for this summer–who was a colleague of the Colgate alum.”

Bye says that throughout her time at Colgate, it was apparent that alumni were loyal and eager to give back to the Colgate community:

“Throughout my time at Colgate, I had encounters with alumni, and the pride for Colgate was consistent… The passion for Colgate was contagious.”

Upon graduation, Colgate students are proud to continue the tradition of giving back to the school. Bye thinks one reason this is so strong is the school cares less about financial donations than emotional investments from its alumni.

SOME NOTABLE ALUMNI

• John Cassavetes, Television director, Film Producer
• Charles Evans, Hughes Judge, Politician
• Andy Rooney, Commentator, Journalist
• Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Politician
• Cris Kobryn, Computer scientist
• Kevin Heffernan, Comedian, Film Producer
• John Dean, Author, Lawyer
• Harry Emerson Fosdick, Preacher
• Ben Cohen, Businessperson, Entrepreneur
• Chase Carey, Businessperson

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#21. University of Texas Alumni Association

UT’s Alumni Association is one of the largest alumni networks in the world at over 100,000 active members. Graduates benefit from the ability to network with other alumni, encourage support for the University, and extend their college community worldwide.

SOME NOTABLE ALUMNI

• Travis Scott (Rapper), Born on 30 April 1992, American
• Janis Joplin (Singer), was born on 19 January 1943. American
• Matthew McConaughey (Actor, Producer) born 04 November 1969. American
• Jon Hamm (Actor) was born on 10 March 1971.  American
• Farrah Fawcett (Actress) born on 02 February 1947. From  American
• Owen Wilson (American actor) born on 18 November 1968. From  American
• Jayne Mansfield was Born on 19 April 1933. From American
• Wes Anderson (Director, Producer, Actor), born 01 May 1969. From American
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