# List of prime ministers of New Zealand by education

The following is a list of prime ministers of New Zealand by education. The list includes all recognised heads of government, the title of which has included colonial secretary, premier, first minister and prime minister, since the establishment of a responsible government in New Zealand in 1856. James FitzGerald and Thomas Forsaith, who led unofficial ministries in 1854, are not included.
Historically it was not uncommon for New Zealand prime ministers to have little tertiary education, however university attendance has become more common since the 1970s. The most frequently attended university is Victoria University of Wellington with four alumni (Jack Marshall, Geoffrey Palmer, Bill English and Chris Hipkins) having held the office of prime minister, followed by the University of Canterbury with three alumni. However, if Jenny Shipley, who attended the Christchurch Teachers' College, now part of the University of Canterbury, is included, the total rises to four. The universities of Auckland, Cambridge, and Otago follow two alumni each. Only two prime ministers have held doctoral level education (Daniel Pollen and Geoffrey Palmer).

## List of New Zealand prime ministers by education

| Prime Minister | Term(s) of office | Secondary School | University | Professional training |
| Henry Sewell | 1856 | Hyde Abbey School | | |
| William Fox | 1856 1861–1862 1869–1872 1873 | Durham School | Wadham College, Oxford (MA) | Inns of Court: Inner Temple |
| Edward Stafford | 1856–1861 1865–1869 1872 | Royal School Dungannon | Trinity College Dublin (no degree) | |
| Alfred Domett | 1862–1863 | Stockwell Park House | St John's College, Cambridge (no degree) | Inns of Court: Middle Temple |
| Frederick Whitaker | 1863–1864 1882–1883 | unknown | | |
| Frederick Weld | 1864–1865 | Stonyhurst College | University of Fribourg | |
| George Waterhouse | 1872–1873 | Kingswood School | | |
| Julius Vogel | 1873–1875 1876 | University College School | | Royal School of Mines |
| Daniel Pollen | 1875–1876 | unknown | unknown (MD) | |
| Harry Atkinson | 1876–1877 1883–1884 1884 1887–1891 | | | |
| George Grey | 1877–1879 | Royal Grammar School | | Royal Military College, Sandhurst |
| John Hall | 1879–1882 | unknown | | |
| Robert Stout | 1884 1884–1887 | Lerwick Academy | University of Otago (no degree) | |
| John Ballance | 1891–1893 | Wilson's Academy | | Birmingham and Midland Institute |
| Richard Seddon | 1893–1906 | Eccleston Hill Grammar School | | |
| William Hall-Jones | 1906 | | | |
| Joseph Ward | 1906–1912 1928–1930 | | | |
| Thomas Mackenzie | 1912 | North Dunedin District School | | |
| William Massey | 1912–1925 | unknown | | |
| Francis Bell | 1925 | Auckland Grammar School Otago Boys' High School | St John's College, Cambridge (MA, mathematics) | |
| Gordon Coates | 1925–1928 | | | |
| George Forbes | 1930–1935 | Christchurch Boys' High School | | |
| Michael Joseph Savage | 1935–1940 | | | |
| Peter Fraser | 1940–1949 | | | |
| Sidney Holland | 1949–1957 | Christchurch West District High School | | |
| Keith Holyoake | 1957 1960–1972 | | | |
| Walter Nash | 1957–1960 | King Charles I Grammar School | | |
| Jack Marshall | 1972 | Otago Boys' High School Whangarei Boys' High School | Victoria University College (LLB, LLM) | |
| Norman Kirk | 1972–1974 | | | |
| Bill Rowling | 1974–1975 | Nelson College | Canterbury University College (BA, economics) | Christchurch College of Education |
| Robert Muldoon | 1975–1984 | Mount Albert Grammar School | | |
| David Lange | 1984–1989 | Otahuhu College | University of Auckland (LLB, LLM) | |
| Geoffrey Palmer | 1989–1990 | Nelson College | Victoria University of Wellington (BA, political science; LLB) University of Chicago Law School (JD) | |
| Mike Moore | 1990 | Bay of Islands College Dilworth School | | |
| Jim Bolger | 1990–1997 | Opunake High School | | |
| Jenny Shipley | 1997–1999 | Marlborough Girls' College | | Christchurch College of Education |
| Helen Clark | 1999–2008 | Epsom Girls' Grammar School | University of Auckland (BA, MA (Hons), political studies) | |
| John Key | 2008–2016 | Burnside High School | University of Canterbury (BCom, accounting) Harvard University (no degree, management) | |
| Bill English | 2016–2017 | St Patrick's College, Silverstream | University of Otago (BA, BCom) Victoria University of Wellington (BA (Hons), English literature) | |
| Jacinda Ardern | 2017–2023 | Morrinsville College | University of Waikato (BCS, public relations and political science) | |
| Chris Hipkins | 2023 | Hutt Valley Memorial College | Victoria University of Wellington (BA, politics and criminology) | |
| Christopher Luxon | 2023–present | Saint Kentigern College Howick College Christchurch Boys' High School | University of Canterbury (BCom, MCom, business administration) | |