- Andy Ogles repeatedly misrepresented his academic credentials, falsely claiming a degree in international relations or economics, when his actual degree was in liberal studies (NewsChannel 5, Tennessean).
- He claimed to be an economist despite only taking a single community college economics course, which he barely passed, and lacking any formal training in the field (NewsChannel 5).
- Ogles claimed graduate education at Vanderbilt and Dartmouth business schools, but only participated in short, non-degree executive certificate programs (NewsChannel 5).
- He blocked the release of his official university records, citing identity theft concerns, which prevented independent verification of his degree (NewsChannel 5).
- Ogles repeatedly shifted explanations for poor or incomplete grades, blaming family hardship, but faced criticism and calls of deception from both media and political figures (Columbia Daily Herald, NewsChannel 5).
2023: NewsChannel 5 Reported Andy Ogles Only Took One Economics Course At Community College According to NewsChannel 5, "the freshman Republican is a self-proclaimed economist who, it turns out, only took one community college Economics course, which he barely passed." [NewsChannel 5, 2/27/23]
1995 And 1998: Ogles Failed Multiple Political Science Courses According to NewsChannel 5, "in the fall of 1995, the future congressman enrolled in U.S. Presidency, Problems in Government, Political Theory and National Security Policy — and flunked every one of them. And three years later, in the fall of 1998, it happened again." [NewsChannel 5, 2/27/23]
Andy Ogles Explained Incomplete College Grades Were Due To Family Financial Support According to Columbia Daily Herald, "Due to an interfamilial matter, I dropped out of college and returned home to financially support my family during a difficult time. Though leaving school was a difficult decision, it was the right one. I would do the same thing again today, even though withdrawing left several incomplete grades that would ultimately be registered as failing." [Columbia Daily Herald, 3/1/23]
Ogles Blamed Poor College Grades On Needing To Support His Family According to Tennessee Tribune, The, "He blamed his failing grades on 'an in-terfamilial matter' that forced him to drop out of college and return home 'to financially support my family during a difficult time.'" [Tennessee Tribune, The, 3/2/23]
2023: NewsChannel 5 Reported Andy Ogles Did Not Major In International Relations Or Economics According to NewsChannel 5, "his major wasn't in economics nor international relations, but in Liberal Studies -- a type of degree generally for those who can't settle on a major." [NewsChannel 5, 2/27/23]
2023: Ogles Claimed Economics Was Part Of His MTSU International Relations Degree According to NewsChannel 5, "Ogles [...] insisted economics was part of his International Relations degree at MTSU." [NewsChannel 5, 2/27/23]
2009: Ogles Listed Degree In International Relations, Not Economics, On Resume According to NewsChannel 5, "our investigation dug up a 2009 resume where he listed a degree in International Relations — not Economics — minoring in Psychology and English." [NewsChannel 5, 2/27/23]
2007: Ogles Completed Degree In Liberal Studies With A 2.4 GPA According to NewsChannel 5, "in 2007, Ogles went back to college and finished the Liberal Studies degree — with a 2.4 GPA." [NewsChannel 5, 2/27/23]
2023: Ogles Apologized For Misstating His Degree, Citing Family Hardship For Failing Grades According to NewsChannel 5, Ogles released a statement: "When I pulled my transcript to verify, I realized I was mistaken... I apologize for my misstatement." He added, "I blamed his failing grades on 'an interfamilial matter' that forced him to drop out of college and return home 'to financially support my family during a difficult time.'" [NewsChannel 5, 2/27/23]
2023: NewsChannel 5 Could Not Find Evidence Of Ogles Having Formal Economics Training According to NewsChannel 5, "there's little evidence that Ogles ever received any formal training in economics." [Newschannel 5, 2/16/23]
2023: Ogles' Congressional Bio Stated He Studied Policy And Economics At MTSU According to NewsChannel 5, "His congressional bio says he obtained a degree from Middle Tennessee State University, 'where he studied policy and economics.'" [Newschannel 5, 2/16/23]
1990-1993: Ogles Majored In English And Allied Language Arts At Western Kentucky According to NewsChannel 5, "Western Kentucky says when he was there from fall of 1990 to fall of 1993, Ogles actually majored in English and Allied Language Arts." [Newschannel 5, 2/16/23]
2007: Ogles Graduated From MTSU With A Bachelor Of Science Degree According To Diploma According to NewsChannel 5, "Ogles released an image of a diploma for a bachelor of science degree from Middle Tennessee State in 2007, when he was 36." [Newschannel 5, 2/16/23]
2009: Ogles Listed Degree In International Relations On Resume And Background Check; No Mention Of Economics According to NewsChannel 5, "It was a résumé from 2009 — two years after he graduated from MTSU — where he listed a degree in international relations, with minors in psychology and English. And likewise, he detailed the same information on a form for a background check — in his own writing — with no mention of economics." [Newschannel 5, 2/16/23]
2023: NewsChannel 5 Reported Ogles' Degree Was In International Relations, Not Economics According to NewsChannel 5, "NewsChannel 5 Investigates obtained a resume showing the Tennessee Republican's degree was not in economics, but in international relations with minors in psychology and English." [NewsChannel 5, 2/17/23]
Ogles' Congressional Website Stated He Studied Policy And Economics At MTSU According to NewsChannel 5, "Andy Ogles' congressional website claims he graduated from Middle Tennessee State University, 'where he studied policy and economics.'" [NewsChannel 5, 2/17/23]
2023: Andy Ogles Claimed To Be An Economist Without Formal Training According to a blog post by Howie Klein on DownWithTyranny, "Ogles lied over and over that he’s an economist. [...] Ogles actually majored in English and Allied Language Arts." [Blog Post - Howie Klein on DownWithTyranny, 1/11/24]
2023: News Outlets Reported Andy Ogles Took Only One College Economics Course, Receipt of a C Grade According to a blog post by Howie Klein on DownWithTyranny, "NewsChannel 5 in Nashville found that he had taken only one course in economics, at a community college, and received a C. Ogles first entered college in 1990 and did not get a degree until 2007." [Blog Post - Howie Klein on DownWithTyranny, 1/11/24]
Andy Ogles Clarified He Earned A Liberal Studies Degree Online In 2007 According to Tennessean, "He finished his degree with online courses in 2007 earning a liberal studies degree, something he clarified in 2023 after his election to Congress. Throughout his 2022 campaign, he claimed to have a degree in international relations, only admitting that he was 'mistaken' about the degree he received after reporters obtained a copy of his transcript from an old job application." [Tennessean, 7/24/24]
WTVF Reported Ogles Falsely Claimed Degree And Vanderbilt Business School Graduation According to MSNBC, "Ogles also failed to tell the truth about his academic background — including what his degree is in — and he falsely claimed to be a graduate of Vanderbilt’s business school." [MSNBC, 1/6/25]
Ogles Had Faced Criticism For Misstating Educational Background According to Tennessean, "In the past, Ogles has also received public criticism for how he described his educational background, including misstating the degree he received from Middle Tennessee State University." [Tennessean, 5/26/24]
Ogles Received Public Criticism For Mischaracterizing His Educational Background According to Columbia Daily Herald, "In the past, Ogles has also received public criticism for how he described his educational background, including misstating the degree he received from Middle Tennessee State University." [Columbia Daily Herald, 5/26/24]
2023: Ogles Clarified His College Degree Was In Liberal Studies, Not International Relations According to The Tennessean, "He finished his degree with online courses in 2007 earning a liberal studies degree, something he clarified in 2023 after his election to Congress. Throughout his 2022 campaign, he claimed to have a degree in international relations, only admitting that he was 'mistaken' about the degree he received after reporters obtained a copy of his transcript from an old job application." [Tennessean, 7/24/24]
Ogles Clarified In 2023 He Earned A Liberal Studies Degree, Not International Relations According to Columbia Daily Herald (Tennessee), "He finished his degree with online courses in 2007 earning a liberal studies degree, something he clarified in 2023 after his election to Congress. Throughout his 2022 campaign, he claimed to have a degree in international relations, only admitting that he was ʻmistakenʼ about the degree he received after reporters obtained a copy of his transcript from an old job application." [Columbia Daily Herald (Tennessee), 7/26/24]
2023: News Reports Questioned Ogles' Economics Credentials According to Chattanooga Times Free Press, "News reports questioned Ogles' resume last year, including his claims that he earned a degree from Vanderbilt's Owen Graduate School of Management and worked as an economist, even though he had no degree or formal training in the field." [Chattanooga Times Free Press, 7/31/24]
Ogles Admitted He Was Mistaken About His Degree From Middle Tennessee State University According to Columbia Daily Herald, "Ogles has also admitted that he was 'mistaken' about what degree he received from Middle Tennessee State University, after scrutiny that he embellished his credentials and work experience during the 2022 primary." [Columbia Daily Herald, 8/8/24]
Ogles Admitted Being "Mistaken" About His Degree From Middle Tennessee State University According to Tennessean, "Ogles has also admitted that he was 'mistaken' about what degree he received from Middle Tennessee State University, after scrutiny that he embellished his credentials and work experience during the 2022 primary." [Tennessean, 8/8/24]
2022: Ogles Admitted Being 'Mistaken' About Degree Received From Middle Tennessee State University According to Knoxville News-Sentinel, "Ogles has also admitted that he was 'mistaken' about what degree he received from Middle Tennessee State University, after scrutiny that he embellished his credentials and work experience during the 2022 primary." [Knoxville News-Sentinel, 8/8/24]
Andy Ogles Admitted Mistake About Academic Credentials After 2022 Scrutiny According to The Oak Ridger, "Ogles has also admitted that he was 'mistaken' about what degree he received from Middle Tennessee State University, after scrutiny that he embellished his credentials and work experience during the 2022 primary." [Oak Ridger, 8/9/24]
Andy Ogles Faced Criticism For Misrepresenting His Degree According to Columbia Daily Herald, "Ogles has faced criticism for embellishing details on his resume, including misrepresenting the degree he received from Middle Tennessee State University, which he has characterized as an unintended mistake, previously reported the Tennessean." [Columbia Daily Herald, 11/4/24]
Andy Ogles Trained In International Studies And Several Languages Before Entrepreneurship According to Tennessean, "A student of German, Russian and Japanese languages, Ogles planned for a career in international business. Instead, he became an entrepreneur." [Tennessean, 6/10/01]
2023: Ogles Claimed To Be An Economist Despite Lack Of Evidence Of Formal Training According to Tennessee Tribune, "there's little evidence that Ogles ever received any formal training in economics [...] His congressional bio says he obtained a degree from Middle Tennessee State University, ‘where he studied policy and economics.’ Yet, the school refused to confirm Ogles' degree." [Tennessee Tribune, 2/23/23]
2002: Ogles' Website Listed Different Areas Of Study Than Economics According to Tennessee Tribune, "back in 2002, Ogles' website claimed he had 'studied foreign policy and the constitution' at Western Kentucky University and Middle Tennessee State. There was no mention of economics." [Tennessee Tribune, 2/23/23]
1990-1993: Western Kentucky University Confirmed Ogles Majored In English And Allied Language Arts According to Tennessee Tribune, "Western Kentucky says when he was there from fall of 1990 to fall of 1993, Ogles actually majored in English and Allied Language Arts." [Tennessee Tribune, 2/23/23]
2009: Ogles Listed A Degree In International Relations On Resume, Not Economics According to Tennessee Tribune, "It was a resume from 2009 – two years after he graduated from MTSU – where he listed a degree in international relations, with minors in psychology and English. And likewise, he detailed the same information on a form for a background check – in his own writing – with no mention of economics." [Tennessee Tribune, 2/23/23]
February 2023: Andy Ogles Admitted Mistake On College Degree Claim According to Tennessean, "U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Columbia, said this week he misspoke about the degree he received from Middle Tennessee State University, an admission that comes amid ongoing scrutiny that he has embellished his credentials and work experience. Ogles said he graduated from MTSU with a bachelor's degree in liberal studies, not the international relations degree he cited in public conversations during appearances throughout his career as mayor of Maury County, his campaign for Tennessee's 5th Congressional District seat and now in his time in the U.S. House." [Tennessean, 2/28/23]
February 2023: Ogles Clarified Degree Was In Liberal Studies With Two Minors According to Tennessean, 'At the time, it was my understanding I had completed my course of study in Political Science and International Relations,' he said. 'Last week, I requested an official copy of my transcript and learned that I was actually awarded a broader degree in Liberal Studies with minors in Political Science and English.'" [Tennessean, 2/28/23]
March 2023: Andy Ogles Admitted He Misstated His College Degree According to Columbia Daily Herald, "I previously stated that my degree from MTSU was in International Relations. When I pulled my transcript to verify, I realized I was mistaken. My degree is in Liberal Studies. I apologize for my misstatement," Ogles said in a statement issued by his communications director. [Columbia Daily Herald, 3/1/23]
NewsChannel 5 Reported Ogles Only Took One Community College Economics Course And Received a 'C' According to Tennessee Tribune, The, "Among the findings: the freshman Republican is a self-proclaimed economist who, it turns out, only took one community college Economics course, which he barely passed." [Tennessee Tribune, The, 3/2/23]
Ogles' Transcript Showed His Degree Was In Liberal Studies, Not Economics Or International Relations According to Tennessee Tribune, The, "That transcript, submitted by Ogles with a job application more than a decade ago, shows his major wasn't in economics nor international relations, but in Liberal Studies ~ a type of degree generally for those who can't settle on a major." [Tennessee Tribune, The, 3/2/23]
Ogles Apologized For Misstating His Degree, Claiming He Was Unaware Until Seeing His Transcript According to Tennessee Tribune, The, "Ogles released a statement Sunday night to a conservative website, The Tennessee Star, in which he claimed he just learned that his degree was in Liberal Studies after requesting his official transcript. 'When I pulled my transcript to verify, I realized I was mistaken,' Ogles said in a statement. 'I apologize for my misstatement.'" [Tennessee Tribune, The, 3/2/23]
Ogles' Transcript Showed He Took Nine Political Science Courses Over Seventeen Years And Had A 2.4 GPA According to Tennessee Tribune, The, "Ogles' transcript shows he got a 'C' in American History, although he did pass a total of nine Political Science courses in the 17 years that it took him to complete his degree. [...] Finally, in 2007, Ogles went back to college and finished the Liberal Studies degree - with a 2.4 GPA." [Tennessee Tribune, The, 3/2/23]
2023: Ogles Was Noted For Being Mistaken About His Degree And For Unfulfilled Children's Memorial Project According to Columbia Daily Herald (Tennessee), "Ogles has recently been under the spotlight after he was 'mistaken' about the degree he earned from Middle Tennessee State University and for not answering questions about funds raised for a children's memorial space that never came to fruition." [Columbia Daily Herald (Tennessee), 4/5/23]
2023: Phil Williams Reported Andy Ogles Made False Claims About Credentials According to an opinion piece in The Ledger: Nashville Edition (Tennessee), "Ogles is not actually an economist, does not have a degree in international relations, was not a trained law enforcement officer working to fight international sex crimes, and did not do graduate work at Vanderbilt. (Hat tip to Phil Williams.)" [The Ledger: Nashville Edition (Tennessee), 3/1/24]
2024: Ledger Cited Reporting Challenging Andy Ogles' Stated Credentials According to an opinion piece in Ledger: Knoxville Edition, "Ogles is not actually an economist, does not have a degree in international relations, was not a trained law enforcement officer working to fight international sex crimes, and did not do graduate work at Vanderbilt. (Hat tip to Phil Williams.)" [Ledger: Knoxville Edition - None, 3/1/24]
2023: Ogles Placed A Block On His University Records Citing Identity Theft Concerns According to NewsChannel 5, "Ogles claimed he put a block on the university confirming his academic credentials because he was worried about his identity being stolen. 'I would encourage anyone to lock down your transcripts, lock down your credit, so you're not a victim of identity theft,' Ogles told WWTN host Dan Mandis." [NewsChannel 5, 2/27/23]
2007: Ogles Completed Degree Through Online Courses And Senior Project According to NewsChannel 5, Ogles stated, "In 2007, Ogles said, he took several online courses and completed a senior project to get his degree." [NewsChannel 5, 2/27/23]
2023: Middle Tennessee State University Did Not Confirm Ogles' Degree Citing Federal Law According to NewsChannel 5, "the school refused to confirm Ogles' degree, citing a provision of federal law that allows students to block the release of their educational credentials." [Newschannel 5, 2/16/23]
2002: Ogles' Website Stated He Studied Foreign Policy And The Constitution, Not Economics According to NewsChannel 5, "back in 2002, Ogles' website claimed he had 'studied foreign policy and the constitution' at Western Kentucky University and Middle Tennessee State. There was no mention of economics." [Newschannel 5, 2/16/23]
2023: NewsChannel 5 Reported Ogles Claimed Graduate Work At Vanderbilt And Dartmouth Business Schools According to NewsChannel 5, "New Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles has claimed to have done graduate work at highly respected business schools at Vanderbilt and Dartmouth universities, but is it true? Not really." [NewsChannel 5, 2/17/23]
2023: NewsChannel 5 Found Ogles Attended Executive Education, Not Degree Programs At Vanderbilt And Dartmouth According to NewsChannel 5, "The truth, we discovered, is that Ogles received certificates for participating in non-degree classes at Vanderbilt and Dartmouth. The types of courses that Andy Ogles took at Vanderbilt and Dartmouth are called executive education." [NewsChannel 5, 2/17/23]
2023: Dartmouth Stated Ogles Took Online Certificate Courses Produced With An Outside Vendor According to NewsChannel 5, "Dartmouth tells NewsChannel 5 Investigates that their online classes were produced with an outside vendor. Ogles got a certificate in marketing, for which Dartmouth's web page in 2008 listed six courses, each of which could be completed in 'two to three hours.'" [NewsChannel 5, 2/17/23]
Ogles Confirmed Executive Education, Not Degree, At Vanderbilt In 2022 GOP Forum According to NewsChannel 5, "The moderator asked Ogles, 'He's also an Owen school of business graduate, right?' 'Executive education, yes, ma'am,' he quietly replied." [NewsChannel 5, 2/17/23]
2023: NewsChannel 5 Reported Ogles Did Not Graduate From Vanderbilt Or Dartmouth. According to Nashville Scene, "Williams reveals that Ogles didn’t really graduate from Vanderbilt or Dartmouth" referencing NewsChannel 5 reporting. [Nashville Scene, 2/20/23]
2023: Ogles' Claims Of Graduate Work At Vanderbilt And Dartmouth Found Untrue According to NewsChannel 5, "February 17, 2023: New Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles has claimed to have done graduate work at highly respected business schools at Vanderbilt and Dartmouth universities, but is it true? Not really." [NewsChannel 5, 4/23/25]
2023: Ogles' College Transcript Obtained By NewsChannel 5 According to NewsChannel 5, "February 27, 2023: What was in Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles' college transcript that he didn't want you to see? NewsChannel 5 Investigates now has the answer." [NewsChannel 5, 4/23/25]
2002: Andy Ogles Ran For Congress As A College Dropout With No Political Experience According to Columbia Daily Herald (Tennessee), "When U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles first decided to run for Congress in 2002 - 20 years before he was ultimately elected - he was a college dropout with no political experience, running a doughnut-shop-turned-meat-and-three with his ʻMemaw Bissingerʼ in Brentwood." [Columbia Daily Herald (Tennessee), 7/26/24]
Ogles Identified As Economist And MTSU Graduate According to Tennessean, "An economist and graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, Ogles has been a recognizable face in the state's conservative political circles as he campaigned for the position." [Tennessean, 6/22/21]
February 2023: Ogles Explained College Withdrawal And Return To Finish Degree According to Tennessean, "During my senior year of college, I transferred to MTSU to pursue a degree in Political Science and International Relations. Due to an interfamilial matter, I dropped out of college and returned home to financially support my family during a difficult time. Though leaving school was a difficult decision, it was the right one. I would do the same thing again today, even though withdrawing left several incomplete grades that would ultimately be registered as failing." [Tennessean, 2/28/23]
Mid-2000s: Ogles Completed MTSU Coursework Via Distance Learning According to Tennessean, "But in the mid-2000s, Ogles said he finished his final semester at MTSU through the school's distance learning program, in an effort to 'set an example for our daughter, demonstrating the importance of finishing what you start.'" [Tennessean, 2/28/23]
Mid-2000s: Andy Ogles Completed Degree In Liberal Studies At MTSU Via Distance Learning According to Columbia Daily Herald, "But in the mid-2000s, Ogles said he finished his final semester at MTSU through the school's distance learning program, in an effort to 'set an example for our daughter, demonstrating the importance of finishing what you start.' Ogles completed coursework in order to obtain the undergraduate degree." [Columbia Daily Herald, 3/1/23]
Ogles Claimed He Put A Block On MTSU Verifying His Credentials Due To Identity Theft Risks According to Tennessee Tribune, The, "Ogles claimed he put a block on the university confirming his academic credentials because he was worried about his identity being stolen. 'I would encourage anyone to lock down your transcripts, lock down your credit, so you're not a victim of identity theft,' Ogles told WWTN host Dan Mandis." [Tennessee Tribune, The, 3/2/23]
2023: Republican Official Criticized Ogles For Resume Misrepresentation According to NewsChannel 5, Randy Stamps, former political director for Tennessee Republican Party, said, "What it shows is the level of deception that he is willing to participate in in order to get elected to the United States Congress — and that's disturbing." [NewsChannel 5, 2/27/23]
2023: NewsChannel 5 Previously Reported Ogles Inflated Education And Business Credentials According to NewsChannel 5, "This all follows questions raised earlier this year by NewsChannel 5 Investigates about how Ogles inflated his educational credentials and business experience." [NewsChannel 5, 11/29/23]
2023: NewsChannel 5 Reported Ogles Exaggerated His Personal Life Story According to Tennessee Tribune, "An exclusive NewsChannel 5 investigation discovered that Andy Ogles' personal life story is filled with exaggerations, a story that's often too good to be true." [Tennessee Tribune, 2/23/23]
2018: Ogles Claimed 'Graduate Education' From Vanderbilt In Mayoral Candidate Questionnaire According to NewsChannel 5, "for a candidates' questionnaire in his hometown newspaper when he ran for Maury County mayor in 2018, Ogles listed his employment as 'economist, tax policy expert' and claimed graduate education from Vanderbilt's respected Owen school." [NewsChannel 5, 2/17/23]
2023: NewsChannel 5 Reported That Andy Ogles' Personal Life Story Contained Exaggerations According to WTVF, "An exclusive NewsChannel 5 investigation discovered that Andy Ogles' personal life story is filled with exaggerations, a story that's often too good to be true." [WTVF, 2/16/23]
2023: NewsChannel 5 Reported Ogles Falsely Claimed To Be An Economist, Tax Expert, Police Officer, And Sex Trafficking Fighter. According to Nashville Scene, "It turns out he’s not an economist, nor a tax expert, nor a police officer, nor a fighter against sex trafficking" as reported by NewsChannel 5's Phil Williams. [Nashville Scene, 2/20/23]
Andy Ogles Learned Restaurant Operations Working In An Italian Restaurant During College According to Tennessean, "Ogles worked in an Italian restaurant while in college, so he had at least a working knowledge of the restaurant business." [Tennessean, 6/10/01]