You may be surprised to find out that many of your favorite celebrities went to college. The list of celebrities with college degrees is longer than you think. Here, we will look at where a few notables earned their degree and what they studied.
In fact, this list goes to show that not everyone who attends college ends up directly using their degree in their profession. However, the transferable skills and experience gained from going to college is worthwhile and can be life-changing.
From TV to the big screen, singers to producers, and more, here’s a look at some notable names in the business who first walked the stage to earn their degrees.
1. Mayim Bialik:
She’s more than just smart in her role on the Big Bang Theory. Mayim Bialik graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a PhD in Neuroscience. Then, she took her wits to the TV screen.
2. Adam Sandler:
Did you know that Adam Sandler has a Master’s in Fine Arts from New York University? Today, Sandler not only acts in movies, but he also owns his own production company called Happy Madison Productions.
3. Eva Longoria:
She’s far from a Desperate Housewife. Eva Longoria’s successful acting career started only after she earned her degree in Kinesiology from Texas A&M University – Kingsville.
4. John Legend:
John Legend’s soulful music has both beautiful lyrics and melody. He actually earned his Bachelor’s in English from the University of Pennsylvania. Now, the father of two and husband to Chrissy Tiegen, he continues to grace stages and share his musical talents with the world.
5. Julia Stiles:
As an actress in 10 Things I Hate About You, Julia Stiles was eager to attend the all-girls school Sarah Lawrence. But, in real life, she graduated with a Bachelor’s in English from Ivy League Columbia University in New York.
6. Spike Lee:
It makes sense that Spike Lee, a world renowned and completely revolutionary film director, producer, actor, and writer has his Master’s in Film and Television. He also has a Bachelor’s in Mass Communications from Morehouse College.
7. Tommy Lee Jones:
Both a filmmaker and an actor, Tommy Lee Jones graduated from Ivy league university Harvard University with a Bachelor’s in English.
8. Natalie Portman:
She’s got both beauty and brains in enormous portions. Natalie Portman earned her degree in Psychology, also from Harvard University. While earning her degree, she played in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. She goes to show that working while attending university is doable!
9. Rebel Wilson:
Hailing from Australia, Rebel Wilson is an actress, writer, and producer who is known for her humor. If she wasn’t an actress, she says she would’ve been a mathematician. However, she graduated from the University of South Wales, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre and Performance and a Bachelor of Law degree.
10. David Spade:
Earning his fame as a member of the Saturday Night Live cast, David Spade has a Business degree from Arizona State University. Speaking of great places to earn your Business degree, did you know that the University of the People has an entirely online and tuition-free option to earn yours?
11. Emma Watson:
Emma Watson has made a name for herself both within Hollywood and outside as she is a jack (or shall we say, queen) of all trades. She is a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador and helped to start a UN campaign called HeForShe for gender equality. As an avid reader and lover of books, she often shares her good reads on her Instagram account. It all comes together when you learn that she earned a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Brown University. Also, she was trained as an actress at Worcester College, Oxford.
12. Gabrielle Union:
A famous actress herself, Gabrielle Union is married to basketball superstar Dwayne Wade. As part of this power couple, she adds to her acting roles as an activist and an author. She graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology.
13. Ken Jeong:
Known for his humorous roles in many popular Hollywood movies, Ken Jeong is also a physician! He graduated from Duke University and continued his studies at the UNC School of Medicine where he earned his M.D. While completing his residency in New Orleans, Jeong started to hone his comedy skills as a stand-up comedian. Before he made it as an actor in Los Angeles, he worked as a doctor at Kaiser Permanente in the city of Woodland Hills.
14. Jamie Foxx:
Born Eric Marlon Bishop, Jamie Foxx was adopted at a young age and grew up in a racially segregated neighborhood. In high school, he was on both the basketball and football teams and dreamed of becoming a professional football player. However, he also shared his musical talents at a young age when he began playing piano at age 5. Later, Foxx developed into an actor, comedian, and musician, who earned his degree with a scholarship from the United States International University. He studied musical and performing arts composition.
15. Meryl Streep:
Her acting career alone is one for the books. Meryl Streep is often called the “best actress” of her generation, and she has been nominated for a record-breaking 21 Academy Awards (and has won 3). Surprisingly, Streep wasn’t all that interested in acting until she played a role during her time at Vassar College. She quickly became famous across campus for her acting skills. After completing her undergraduate at Vassar College, she earned her MFA from Yale. She also was a visiting student at Dartmouth College, where she earned an Honorary Doctor of Arts degree.
As you can see from the abbreviated list above, many famous people had other plans before they became famous. While some knew they wanted to pursue a career in the industry, they still understood the importance of earning a degree. Others studied completely unrelated subjects, but the transferable skills and socialization that college breeds is one-of-a-kind and memorable.
Whether you choose to enroll at an online university or a traditional on-campus school, you will hone skills that will help you in your future career, including:
Time management
Problem-solving
Communication
Perseverance
Focus
You will also get to network with students from all around the world and broaden your social circle.
From A-List to Z
These celebrities have something no one can ever take away from them — their education. While their fame may last a short or long amount of time, their knowledge is forever as celebrities who went to college. That’s something that makes earning your degree such a beautiful and worthwhile experience — it never fades away!
At UoPeople, our blog writers are thinkers, researchers, and experts dedicated to curating articles relevant to our mission: making higher education accessible to everyone. Read More
