wˈiːtkɹɔft ɐtˈɛndᵻd tˈɛmpəl jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi, ɹˈʌtdʒɚz jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi, ænd bʌknˈɛl jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi, wˌɛɹ hiː ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾᵻd ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi nˈaɪn.
Wheatcroft attended Temple University, Rutgers University, and Bucknell University, where he graduated in 1949.