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Celebrities With Unexpected College Degrees

Austin Weber 34 min read Oct 31, 2023

Education is essential, hence why most people spend their childhoods at school. Once you reach a certain age, though, it’s no longer a requirement. That’s why roughly only 44% of Americans have gone to college and received a degree, with some of those people being well-known celebrities.

You don’t need a bachelor's or master's degree to make it as a singer or actor, but that hasn’t stopped plenty of stars from doing higher education. Some of them have even gone to college for something completely different from what they’re famous for. Well, there’s nothing wrong with broadening your horizons.

Will Ferrell’s sports information degree hasn’t helped much with his legendary acting career

College: University of Southern California
Subject Studied: Sports information
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Year of Graduation: 1990

We know Will Ferrell as one of the biggest names in Hollywood, responsible for iconic films like the Christmas flick ‘Elf’ and the comedy movie ‘Anchorman.’ Just recently, he featured in the fantasy comedy ‘Barbie,’ which grossed over $1.4 billion at the box office and earned critical acclaim. Yet, when he went to college, acting wasn’t on his mind.

In 1990, Will left the University of Southern California with a degree in sports information, a program that was discontinued less than a decade after he graduated. Following college, Ferrell took up a few jobs as a hotel valet and a teller before eventually finding his footing as a comedian and actor. We have his mom to thank for that.

Mayim Bialik played a neuroscientist on TV after achieving a neuroscience degree

College: University of California, Los Angeles
Subject Studied: Neuroscience
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Science / Doctor of Philosophy
Year of Graduation: 2000 / 2007

When Mayim Bialik was cast in the sitcom ‘The Big Bang Theory,’ she probably felt more comfortable about the science-y setting of the show than anyone else in the series. After all, she earned a neuroscience degree at the University of California some years before she started playing Amy Farrah Fowler. She was in her element as this character.

Mayim had actually earned both a Bachelor of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy degree before she appeared in the show, receiving the latter in 2007. Moreover, during her first stint at UCLA, she minored in Hebrew and Jewish studies on top of her neuroscience work. It seems Mayim was motivated by her roots to learn about these topics.

Sacha Baron Cohen’s characters don’t reflect the intelligence of the actor himself

College: Christ’s College, University of Cambridge
Subject Studied: History
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Year of Graduation: 1993

Given some of the characters that Sacha Baron Cohen has played over the years, people might not expect the man to have a college education. While comedy films like ‘Borat’ - which made over $262 million at the box office - have been huge hits for him, he’s had a tendency to play people who aren’t the most intellectual.

This is not a reflection of the actor in real life, though, who earned a history degree from the University of Cambridge in the early ‘90s. Apparently, his focus was on antisemitism, with Cohen ultimately leaving college with upper-second-class-honors. During his studies, Cohen even wrote a thesis about the part that Jewish activists played in the American civil rights movement.

Natalie Portman largely put acting on hold so she could earn a degree

College: Harvard University
Subject Studied: Psychology
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Year of Graduation: 2003

Some celebrities study different subjects at college before they have their breakthrough in the spotlight. Not Natalie Portman, though. Given that she started acting at 12, she already had a Hollywood career before she was old enough to attend higher education. So, some people may be surprised that Natalie ended up studying psychology and not something acting-related.

She was fortunate enough to get into Harvard University to earn her degree, dedicating several years to this subject along with neurobiology and Hebrew literature. Although Natalie came back to acting once she’d graduated, her roles during those few years were incredibly limited. She was evidently focused on her studies and determined to leave Harvard with a good degree.

Bradley Cooper earned two degrees before making it big in Hollywood

College: Georgetown University / Actors Studio Drama School
Subject Studied: English / Acting
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts / Master of Fine Arts
Year of Graduation: 1997 / 2000

Bradley Cooper isn’t someone who will likely need to fall back on a degree at any point in his life. His movies have apparently grossed $11 billion worldwide, and he’s repeatedly featured as one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors. Still, having a degree in English certainly won’t do him any harm, with Cooper earning the accolade in 1997.

He majored in English and minored in French while at Georgetown University, a college that he transferred to after a year at Villanova University. This isn’t actually his only degree, as Cooper also received a Master of Fine Arts at the Actors Studio Drama School in 2000. Presumably, that one has helped him a lot with his career.

Carrie Underwood was already in college when she appeared on American Idol

College: Northeastern State University
Subject Studied: Mass communication
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Year of Graduation: 2006

You don't need a degree to appear on a show like the reality competition series ‘American Idol.’ That’s good, given that Carrie Underwood hadn’t finished hers when she applied for the show’s fourth season. Although she did end up graduating in 2006, she was balancing her studies with a growing music career towards the end.

Carrie’s focus while at Northeastern State University was mass communications, albeit with an emphasis on journalism. That’s perhaps not what you’d expect from someone who’s achieved an estimated net worth of $140 million through singing. However, if it weren’t for her impressing on ‘American Idol,’ Carrie may have had to explore a viable career away from music.

Jodie Foster was reportedly motivated to act after going to college

College: Yale University
Subject Studied: African-American literature
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Year of Graduation: 1985

Throughout her career, Jodie Foster has earned two Oscars, three Golden Globes, and plenty of other awards for her incredible acting skills. However, despite already finding stardom as a teenager in Hollywood, her focus at college wasn’t anything to do with acting. Instead, Foster reportedly majored in African-American literature while she was at Yale University.

Interestingly, though, it was going to college that actually helped to motivate Jodie to forge an acting career. Apparently, she considered this to be an unintelligent profession before, but by the time she graduated, Jodie acknowledged it was her passion, and there was “nothing stupid about it.” We’re glad that her degree gave her the motivation to become a star.

Lisa Kudrow wanted to be a headache expert before acting came along

College: Vassar College
Subject Studied: Biology
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Science
Year of Graduation: 1985

Lisa Kudrow has enjoyed a pretty busy career in film and TV thanks to her role as Phoebe Buffay on the sitcom ‘Friends.’ Pulling in millions of viewers weekly for a decade, it gave Kudrow the breakout that she needed in her early 30s. Until that point, most of her acting roles had been pretty minor.

By the time ‘Friends’ became a hit, the actress already had a degree under her belt from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. Lisa had apparently studied biology with the intention of becoming an expert on headaches to match her father. Interestingly, Kudrow actually worked for him for years before she made it big in Hollywood.

Brian May turned down an astrophysics job after graduating because of his music

College: Imperial College London
Subject Studied: Physics / Astrophysics
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Science / Doctor of Philosophy
Year of Graduation: 1968 / 2007

There aren’t many bands out there as big as Queen, with the Mirror previously reporting the remaining members were worth as much as £445 million (approximately $542.5 million). That includes Brian May, the legendary guitarist who helped to write some of the group’s biggest hits. Still, these came after he earned a degree in physics from Imperial College London.

He graduated with honors in 1968 and was invited to work at the Jodrell Bank Observatory afterward. However, May allegedly turned the job down to focus on the band he was with at the time. A few years later, Queen came along, and that’s why it took until 2007 for him to finally earn his PhD in astrophysics.

Brooke Shields put her career on pause to study French literature

College: Princeton University
Subject Studied: French literature
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Year of Graduation: 1987

Brooke Shields has been in the spotlight for most of her life. She apparently started modeling before she was even a year old, with the star going on to appear in several movies as a teenager. However, Brooke put all of that on pause once she was old enough, though, because she wanted to go to college.

She managed to get into an excellent school - Princeton University - where she eventually graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in French literature. We’re not sure how much that has helped with Brooke’s continued career as an actress. However, if this subject was something she was passionate about, we’re glad she had the opportunity to study it.

Dwayne Johnson’s multiple career paths have nothing to do with his degree

College: University of Miami
Subject Studied: Criminology and Physiology
Type of Degree: Bachelor of General Studies
Year of Graduation: 1995

There aren’t many stars who have successfully transitioned from one career to another. However, Dwayne Johnson managed it seamlessly when he went from being a wrestling champion to a Hollywood actor. What’s interesting about this is that neither career path is even related to what the man studied when he attended the University of Miami in the 1990s.

Johnson majored in criminology and physiology while at the college, balancing his studies with being on the college football team. However, it seems that his football skills weren’t quite good enough for him to go professional, with Johnson also not passionate enough to explore a career related to his degree. So, he ended up in the world of professional wrestling.

Allison Williams was an English graduate before she became a scream queen

College: Yale University
Subject Studied: English
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Year of Graduation: 2010

Thanks to her roles in horror movies like ‘Get Out’ and ‘M3GAN,’ Allison Williams is considered one of the scream queens of the modern era. Her successful film credits have reportedly earned her an net worth of $5 million, which will likely continue to grow as her career flourishes, especially with her executive producing work.

Although she’s now known for horror movies, Allison’s passion was once English. At least, that’s what she decided to get a degree in when she attended Yale University. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 2010, a few years before she began playing Marnie Michaels in the dramedy ‘Girls.’ That was when her career really took off.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s degree is just one of many things he’s accomplished so far

College: University of Wisconsin-Superior
Subject Studied: International business and Economics
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Business Administration
Year of Graduation: 1980

Arnold Schwarzenegger is another person who managed to enjoy several successful careers throughout his life. He’s been a bodybuilder, a Hollywood actor, and even a Californian mayor. The last of these perhaps has the biggest connection to his time in college, where he studied international business and economics at the University of Wisconsin-Superior in the 1970s.

Evidently, Schwarzenegger is a man who likes to try new things and tackle challenges head-on. It’s certainly done well for him financially, with Celebrity Net Worth estimating that he could be worth some $450 million. As a result, paying off student fees from his time in college probably hasn’t been that difficult for the man.

Rooney Mara graduated the same year she achieved critical acclaim

College: Gallatin School of Individualized Study, New York University
Subject Studied: Psychology, International social policy, and Nonprofits
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Year of Graduation: 2010

Ever since Rooney Mara was cast as Lisbeth Salander in the English version of the mystery thriller ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,’ her career has been blossoming. The film raked in around $240 million at the box office and earned widespread acclaim, with Mara’s performance considered one of the highlights of the Hollywood movie.

The movie was actually released in the same year Rooney graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Rather than studying acting, though, Mara had focused on psychology, international social policy, and nonprofits. She’d originally gotten into George Washington University to study but transferred to the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at NYU one year later.

Aziz Ansari studied marketing but has always been passionate about comedy

College: Stern School of Business, New York University
Subject Studied: Marketing
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Business Administration
Year of Graduation: 2004

Aziz Ansari is well known for his comedy skills. Shows like the sitcom ‘Parks and Recreation’ and the dramedy ‘Master of None’ have highlighted these skills and earned him critical acclaim. It’s a surprise, then, that his degree was far from a laughing matter, with Aziz choosing to spend several years studying marketing at New York University.

Although he focused on a degree in this area, Ansari was passionate about comedy for much of his life. A year after his graduation, he was highlighted by Rolling Stone as their “Hot Standup” for the year. Come 2008, he was cast in ‘Parks and Recreation,’ and from there, Aziz’s career in Hollywood really took off.

Rebel Wilson managed to study both theater and law at college

College: University of New South Wales
Subject Studied: Theater and performance studies / Law
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Laws
Year of Graduation: 2009

For years, Rebel Wilson has struggled to get people to take her seriously. Her comedic prowess has been a huge driving force behind her success in Hollywood. However, there have also been times when her comedy style has led people to make digs at her intellect. That’s despite the fact that Rebel actually graduated from college with a law degree.

Before she made a name for herself in the musical comedy ‘Pitch Perfect’ movies, Wilson was a student at the University of New South Wales. There, she honed her acting skills by studying theater and performance studies while also working hard to learn about the law. She eventually ended up leaving college with degrees in both areas.

Meghan Markle walked out of college with a double major

College: School of Communication, Northwestern University
Subject Studied: Theater and International studies
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Year of Graduation: 2003

Ever since Meghan Markle met Prince Harry, her name has seemingly been on everyone’s lips. That’s not always been a good thing, but there’s no denying that it’s helped her career to flourish. Alongside her husband, she’s believed to now be worth $60 million, which is a step up from when she was starring in the legal drama ‘Suits.’

Acting used to be Meghan’s greatest passion, with the star even attending Northwestern University to study theater. However, this wasn’t her only focus in college, with Markle graduating with a double major that included international studies, too. We’re not sure which major is more useful now that she and Harry are forging a career away from the monarchy.

David Duchovny made it as far as a Ph.D. but never completed it

College: Princeton University / Yale University
Subject Studied: English literature
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts / Master of Arts
Year of Graduation: 1982 / 198?

The name David Duchovny is one that plenty of sci-fi fans will recognize, thanks to the actor’s many years playing FBI agent Fox Mulder. The sci-fi drama ‘The X-Files’ definitely put this man on the map after he spent years studying for a degree completely unrelated to acting. It seems his passion at college was for English literature.

David initially attended Princeton University for this, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. After that, he moved to Yale and earned a Master of Arts degree in the same area. David then allegedly began working on a Ph.D. to really take his academic accomplishments to the next level. However, he never actually finished this.

Gabrielle Union didn’t let a traumatic incident stop her from finishing college

College: University of California
Subject Studied: Sociology
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Science
Year of Graduation: 1996

Gabrielle Union’s college years weren’t the dream that they could have been. Apparently, the summer before her sophomore year, she was assaulted at her part-time job and threatened with a weapon. That incident has undoubtedly affected her in the years since, but it didn’t stop her from seeing her degree through and graduating with a Bachelor of Science in sociology.

Fortunately, it also hasn’t stopped Gabrielle from building up quite the filmography over the last few decades. Celebrity Net Worth estimates that she could now be worth $40 million, thanks to movies like the teen comedy ‘Bring It On’ and the drama ‘Being Mary Jane.’ We’re not sure how she went from studying sociology to becoming an actress, though.

Gene Simmons was a teacher before Kiss made it big

College: City University of New York
Subject Studied: Education
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Year of Graduation: Unknown

There are no clear-cut rules for how a teacher should look. However, we’re not sure that anyone would be able to get away with teaching a class while dressing the way Gene Simmons does when performing. Presumably, he ditched the makeup and kept his tongue in his mouth back when he used to put his degree to good use.

Before he was part of a band worth a reported $300 million, Gene Simmons was allegedly a sixth-grade teacher helping to shape the next generation. He’d apparently graduated from the City University of New York with a degree in education, although we’re not entirely sure when this was. Still, the singer has previously confirmed his teaching past on X.

Julia Stiles was an established actress when she studied English literature

College: Columbia University
Subject Studied: English literature
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Year of Graduation: 2005

By the turn of the century, Julia Stiles had already begun making a name for herself. Movies like the romantic teen comedy ‘10 Things I Hate About You’ and the dance film ‘Save the Last Dance’ brought in award nominations and plenty of acclaim. Yet, when she attended college in the 2000s, it wasn’t acting Julia was focused on.

Perhaps she was confident in her acting skills and wanted to explore another passion while she was in college? Either way, Julia apparently focused on English literature during her time at Columbia University, ultimately graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 2005. Despite the qualification, she’s still passionate about acting and continues to star in various productions to this day.

Ken Jeong is both a comedy genius and a qualified medical professional

College: University of North Carolina School of Medicine
Subject Studied: Medicine
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Science / Doctor of Medicine
Year of Graduation: 1990 / 1995

It’s surprising to see what some of these celebrities have earned degrees in, given what they’re known for. However, perhaps one of the biggest shocks in this regard is Ken Jeong, whose comedic ability contrasts with his qualifications in medicine. Plenty of fans probably have no idea that this guy has a Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine degrees.

Despite these achievements, though, Ken didn’t decide to go into acting and comedy after growing bored with medicine. He was always passionate about these and nearly majored in drama at college. He reportedly took theater classes the summer before he started medical school and started pursuing a career in this area while he was a sophomore.

Wanda Sykes was a marketing major before she focused on comedy

College: Hampton University
Subject Studied: Marketing
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Science
Year of Graduation: 1986

Wanda Sykes is known for her contributions to television as both a writer and actor. She won a Primetime Emmy for the former with the late-night talk show ‘The Chris Rock Show’ in the late ‘90s. Then, in the decades since, she’s proven to be unforgettable in series like the sitcoms ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ and ‘Black-ish.’

Her efforts have consequently created an estimated net worth of $10 million, but would that be higher if she’d stuck with the subject of her degree? In the 1980s, Wanda graduated from Hampton University with a Bachelor of Science in marketing. She went on to work for the NSA for five years after this before she pivoted to comedy.

Vinny Guadagnino apparently graduated from college right before Jersey Shore started

College: College of Staten Island, City University of New York
Subject Studied: Political science
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Year of Graduation: 2009

The reality series ‘Jersey Shore’ didn’t exactly have the best reputation while it was on TV. Frequently surrounded by controversy, the cast was often accused of perpetuating stereotypes. Some people definitely didn't feel like everyone was themselves on the show, and it seems some were more intelligent than they presented themselves to be. Just look at Vinny Guadagnino.

Despite how he sometimes came across in the series, he actually had a degree in political science from the City University of New York. Vinny graduated from college the same year that ‘Jersey Shore’ debuted, and he wasn’t the only one to have such an accolade. According to Sammi Giancola, most of them went to college before the show aired.

Danica McKellar followed up a major acting role with a mathematics degree

College: University of California
Subject Studied: Mathematics
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Science
Year of Graduation: 1998

One of the roles that Danica McKellar is best known for is playing Winnie Cooper in the coming-of-age dramedy series ‘The Wonder Years.’ She appeared in this during the late ‘80s and early ‘90s and followed it up by going in a completely different direction with her career. That’s because she went to study mathematics at the University of California.

Although she did still act occasionally during this period, Danica was very focused on her degree, and rightly so. Mathematics isn’t necessarily something you can expect to do well in if you don’t give it your all. Luckily, Danica’s commitment meant that she successfully graduated in 1998, with a professor she worked with praising her for being “really, really first-rate.”

John Cleese went from being a law student to a comedy genius

College: Downing College, University of Cambridge
Subject Studied: Law
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Laws
Year of Graduation: 1963

John Cleese is a man of comedy, as evidenced by his work with Monty Python, as well as British sitcoms like ‘Fawlty Towers.’ Given the ridiculous nature of some of his past work, people might not expect him to have a particularly noteworthy degree. However, he graduated with an upper second in law during the early ‘60s.

Moreover, Cleese completed his degree at Cambridge, an institution that’s incredibly difficult to get into. Of course, despite earning such an esteemed accolade, his passion was still comedy, and it wasn’t long before Cleese was making a name for himself with Monty Python. Now, he’s believed to be worth an estimated $20 million, thanks to his comedy genius.

J.Cole’s diploma was delayed for years because of an overdue library book

College: St. John’s University
Subject Studied: Communications
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Year of Graduation: 2007 (2015)

So far, every studio album J.Cole has released has topped the charts in the US, with his 2014 album reportedly selling more than 1.2 million copies. This was released the year before he was granted a degree in communications by St John’s University. The interesting thing about that is that he’d actually finished college some eight years earlier.

Apparently, although he graduated in 2007 with a 3.8 GPA, J.Cole didn’t officially receive his degree until almost a decade later. This was supposedly because the music star owed money for a library book. We’re not sure why it took him so long to resolve this situation, but at least he got his diploma eventually.

Rashida Jones would have studied law if not for a certain trial

College: Harvard University
Subject Studied: Religion and philosophy
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Year of Graduation: 1997

From the drama series ‘Boston Public’ to the sitcom ‘The Office’ to ‘Parks and Recreation,’ Rashida Jones has racked up many incredible roles in her career. Throw in the fact that she’s also had success as a producer and writer, and it’s perhaps no wonder she could be worth $25 million now. She has a lot to be proud of.

Jones has certainly achieved a significant amount since she was a student at Harvard University studying religion and philosophy. There was a time when she apparently thought about studying law, but the OJ Simpson trial allegedly put her off. So, Rashida focused on these subjects instead while simultaneously developing a passion for acting that soon flourished.

Ben McKenzie’s current interest in cryptocurrency apparently stems from his degree

College: University of Virginia
Subject Studied: Economics and Foreign affairs
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Year of Graduation: 2001

Although Ben McKenzie portrayed a high school student in the teen drama ‘The O.C.,’ the actor had already graduated from college when he played Ryan Atwood. He’d finished his studies two years before the series debuted, leaving the University of Virginia with a degree in economics and foreign affairs. Said degree has actually proved useful in his career.

McKenzie’s 2023 book certainly benefited from an understanding of economics, with the text entitled ‘Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud.’ He’s spoken a lot about cryptocurrency in recent years, being quite critical of the currency for publications like Slate and the Washington Post. Apparently, Ben actually attributed his interest in all this to his degree.

Sam Hunt’s music career blossomed out of his time in college

College: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Subject Studied: Economics
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Year of Graduation: 2007

With four number ones on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and two top-five albums, Sam Hunt has really made a name for himself in the country music scene. He’s been working hard ever since he signed a recording contract in 2014, and even before then, too. However, there was a time when Sam also held football dreams.

The switch reportedly came while studying at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He was there learning economics, a degree he eventually graduated with in 2007. Although Sam played football at college, his roommates also encouraged him to perform his music at bars. When attempts to impress the Kansas City Chiefs after graduation failed, he turned to music full-time.

Freddie Highmore was filming one of his biggest roles while at college

College: Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge
Subject Studied: Spanish and Arabic
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Year of Graduation: 2014

Freddie Highmore is another star who already had a career before he was old enough to go to college. His estimated $8 million net worth partly stems from movies like the musical fantasy ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,’ which he appeared in as a teenager. Of course, more recent projects like the medical drama ‘The Good Doctor’ have also helped.

Highmore was actually filming the horror drama ‘Bates Motel’ while he was at college, and we’re not sure how much his degree helped with the role. After all, his focus was on Spanish and Arabic during his time at the University of Cambridge. The same goes for the summer he spent studying finance in between his freshman and sophomore year.

Art Garfunkel undertook several degrees during the heyday of Simon & Garfunkel

College: Columbia University
Subject Studied: Art history / Mathematics education
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts / Master of Arts
Year of Graduation: 1965 / 1967

Art Garfunkel is best known as one-half of the iconic folk-rock duo Simon & Garfunkel. The two men have known one another since elementary school, with the pair achieving magnificent success in the 1960s. That’s despite Art also devoting himself to higher education during this period, going on to earn two degrees before the ‘60s were out.

The first of these was a Bachelor of Arts in art history, with the latter being a Master of Arts in mathematics education. There was a point as well when Garfunkel was apparently working on a doctorate in mathematics education, but he reportedly dropped out. Well, this was at the peak of the group’s success.

Danai Guirira’s Master of Fine Arts in acting is definitely paying off

College: Macalester College / Tisch School of the Arts, New York University
Subject Studied: Social psychology / Acting
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts / Master of Fine Arts
Year of Graduation: 2001 / 2004

Danai Guirira has made a name for herself in both film and TV, with her most recent standout role being in the superhero ‘Blank Panther’ films. The second of these reportedly generated over $850 million at the box office, which actually makes it the only movie starring Guiria as Okoye not to pull in over $1 billion.

Evidently, her Master of Fine Arts degree in acting is coming in helpful and proving she was right to spend that time - and money - at New York University. Of course, this wasn’t actually her first degree. Three years before she received this diploma, Guirira earned a Bachelor of Arts in social psychology at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Conan O’Brien was a prime candidate for Harvard as a teenager

College: Harvard University
Subject Studied: History and Literature
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Year of Graduation: 1985

Is it any surprise that Conan O’Brien got into Harvard University? By the time he left high school, he’d become valedictorian, managing editor of the school paper, a congressional intern, and had won a writing contest. He was made for such a prestigious college, and Conan ultimately graduated as one of the highest in his class.

Although he focused on history and literature for his degree, he’s become known for his comedy and hosting prowess. The literature element may well have helped with his writing skills, though, which he’s repeatedly utilized throughout his career. That includes several years working on the sketch comedy series ‘Saturday Night Live’ and the animated sitcom ‘The Simpsons.’

Ashley Judd was one course shy of graduating when she first attended college

College: University of Kentucky / Harvard University
Subject Studied: French / Public administration
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts / Master of Public Administration
Year of Graduation: 2007 / 2010

Considering she’s the daughter of the late Naomi Judd, Ashley Judd may have had an easier path to stardom than others. However, that doesn’t mean the actress hasn’t put in the work to prove she deserves a place in the spotlight. She’s also ensured that she’ll always have other things to fall back on, thanks to getting a college education.

In the late 1980s, Ashley attended the University of Kentucky as a French major who minored in art history, theater, anthropology, and women’s studies. Unfortunately, she didn’t graduate at the time because she was one course shy. Luckily, that finally changed in 2007, with Judd then going on to get a Master of Public Administration degree from Harvard University.

Cole Sprouse stopped acting so he could focus on studying archaeology

College: Gallatin School of Individualized Study, New York University
Subject Studied: Geographical Information Systems in archaeology
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Science
Year of Graduation: 2015

We’ve seen plenty of child stars lose control when they grow up in the spotlight. Two people who have always appeared somewhat grounded, though, are the Sprouse twins. Achieving fame thanks to ‘Friends’ and work on the Disney Channel, the pair actually took a break from acting once they were old enough to go to college.

Cole was seemingly interested in branching out from acting to something more scientific, choosing to major in Geographic Information Systems in archaeology. Apparently, he was fascinated with earth science because his grandfather used to be a geologist. He reportedly participated in several digs during his studies and even worked in archaeology briefly before Cole appeared in the drama series ‘Riverdale.’

Dylan Sprouse turned to video game design during his acting hiatus

College: Gallatin School of Individualized Study, New York University
Subject Studied: Video game design
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Science
Year of Graduation: 2015

Cole wasn’t the only Sprouse twin to attend New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study in the mid-2010s. Just like his twin brother, Dylan took a step back from acting so he could get a college education. However, he was less interested in studying archaeology and apparently more focused on learning the ins and outs of video game design.

In 2015, Dylan graduated alongside his sibling, and just like Cole, it was a little while before he returned to the world of acting. He hasn’t been in anything as prominent as ‘Riverdale’ since his return. However, Dylan has racked up a fair few credits, including the romantic comedy ‘My Fake Boyfriend,’ which received largely positive reviews upon release.

Laverne Cox fell in love with acting after she transferred colleges

College: Marymount Manhattan College
Subject Studied: Dance
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Fine Arts
Year of Graduation: Unknown

It was through the dramedy series ‘Orange Is the New Black’ that Laverne Cox rose to prominence. One of the first streaming shows to find great success, the program brought Cox plenty of award nominations throughout its run. It’s a good thing that Laverne decided to pursue acting, then, instead of sticking with her degree in dance.

It’s unclear exactly when the actress earned this. However, we do know that she’d apparently received a scholarship to Indiana University after impressing during her high school years at the Alabama School of Fine Arts. Laverne was only there for two years before she switched to New York’s Marymount Manhattan College, though, where her love for acting soon blossomed.

Emma Watson started college before she was finished with filming Harry Potter

College: Brown University
Subject Studied: English literature
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Year of Graduation: 2014

Apparently, Emma Watson was only ten years old when she starred in the first of the fantasy ‘Harry Potter’ films. This actually made her younger than her fellow leads, even though her character made her seem more mature. By the time the final film in the series came around, she had definitely grown up into her 20s.

She was old enough to attend college by this point, and that’s indeed what Watson did. For several years, she reportedly divided her time between filming and studying English literature at Brown University. Emma ended up graduating a year after the final ‘Harry Potter’ film. Now, nine years later, she’s reportedly studying for a master's in creative writing at Oxford.

Lionel Richie was studying economics before he was releasing hit singles

College: Tuskegee Institute
Subject Studied: Economics
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Science
Year of Graduation: 1974

During the late 1970s, Lionel Richie began to find fame with the Motown group Commodores. In the years that followed, he accomplished a successful solo career, which ultimately led to him becoming a judge on ‘American Idol.’ Before all of this musical success, though, Richie was a college graduate wondering what he could do with a degree in economics.

He’d apparently grown up on the campus of Tuskegee Institute, so it’s maybe no great surprise that he ended up getting his Bachelor of Science degree there. Apparently, Richie got into the school via a tennis scholarship. However, despite studying hard to earn his diploma, Lionel always seemed to have musical ambitions over anything else, hence his successful singing career.

Kourtney Kardashian earned a degree before becoming a reality TV star

College: University of Arizona
Subject Studied: Theater arts
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Year of Graduation: Early 2000s

The Kardashians largely have Kim to thank for the amount of success they’ve achieved over the years. However, just because she brought the family to the world’s attention, that doesn’t mean her siblings haven’t worked hard to get to where they are today. Kourtney, for instance, has launched her own website and several fashion lines over the years.

The reality star also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at some point in the early 2000s. She attended the University of Arizona alongside people like Nicole Richie, walking away with a major in theater arts and a minor in Spanish. Given she can supposedly make $250,000 from a social media post, though, Kourtney definitely doesn’t need her degree.

John Legend enrolled in college when he was only 16

College: University of Pennsylvania
Subject Studied: English
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Year of Graduation: 1999

John Legend has been around longer than some people might realize. Before his own music was blowing people away, he was appearing in songs by Lauryn Hill, Jay-Z, and Alicia Keys. By the mid-2000s, though, he was starting to get some appreciation for his own work, with his debut album selling over 2.1 million copies in the United States.

That piece of music came five years after the man graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in English. Interestingly, John actually enrolled in the college at 16, and it was through the school that he was introduced to Lauryn Hill. She asked him to play the piano on one of her songs, and his career naturally flourished.

Rowan Atkinson's intellect is a world away from Mr. Bean’s.

College: Newcastle University / Queen’s College, Oxford
Subject Studied: Electrical engineering
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Science / Master of Science
Year of Graduation: 1975

Rowan Atkinson is known around the world for his portrayal of Mr. Bean. Even though he only played the character for a handful of years, it quickly became iconic, with many people unable to separate the two. However, Atkinson couldn’t be more different than his character, with the actor incredibly intelligent, as evidenced by his degrees.

He has a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree in his arsenal, with both being in electrical engineering. Rowan reportedly received the former from Newcastle University and the latter from Queen’s College, Oxford, during the 1970s. He did apparently consider doing a Ph.D. as well but allegedly gave up to become a full-time actor.

Chris Martin met the rest of Coldplay while he was at college

College: University College London
Subject Studied: Greek and Latin
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Year of Graduation: 2000

As the lead singer of Coldplay, Chris Martin has achieved no end of success. The band has won seven Grammy awards, sold over 100 million albums, and had seven top ten albums in the US - of which four were number one. To think that Coldplay only came about because Martin and his bandmates all went to college.

The four were reportedly all students at University College London, with Martin already working to establish the band during his orientation week. Despite having music on the brain throughout his higher education, Chris still managed to graduate in 2000 with first-class honors. His focus was apparently on ancient world studies, focusing in particular on Greek and Latin.

Eva Longoria was apparently interested in the study of body movement before acting

College: Texas A&M University-Kingsville / California State University
Subject Studied: Kinesiology / Chicano studies
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Science / Master of Arts
Year of Graduation: 1998 / 2013

After making a splash in the soap opera ‘The Young and the Restless,’ Eva Longoria got her big break when she featured in the mystery dramedy series ‘Desperate Housewives.’ From that success, she’s picked up a bunch of other roles and also achieved various advertising and modeling contracts. That’s resulted in an estimated net worth of $80 million.

Although acting and fashion have been her passions for years, it was actually in kinesiology that she earned her degree in the 1990s. Eva was seemingly fascinated by the study of body movement and chose to focus on that at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Years later, she went back to college to achieve a Master of Arts in Chicano studies.

Hugh Laurie has Cambridge to thank for his double act with Stephen Fry

College: Selwyn College, Cambridge
Subject Studied: Anthropology and Archaeology
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Year of Graduation: 1981

While Hugh Laurie has done plenty of serious acting over the years, he first made a name for himself in comedy. He had a successful double act alongside Stephen Fry, as well as impressing in the British sitcom ‘Blackadder.’ It was only when he starred in the medical drama ‘House’ that fans really saw a different side to him.

Thanks to this show, Laurie was apparently earning $409,000 every episode, making him one of the highest-paid TV actors of the time. That’s presumably more than he would have made if he’d utilized his Bachelor of Arts degree in anthropology and archaeology. It was actually at the University of Cambridge that Laurie met Fry and began his acting career.

Gerard Butler could have been a lawyer if he’d had more focus

College: University of Glasgow School of Law
Subject Studied: Law
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Laws
Year of Graduation: 1993

Gerard Butler has appeared in some huge projects over the years, including the epic historical action film ‘300’ and the animated movies in the ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ series. He’s achieved all this despite starting out as a lawyer, earning a degree from the University of Glasgow School of Law. Apparently, his ambitions all changed at 25.

It was at this age that Gerard was fired just one week before he fully qualified as a lawyer from the firm he was training at. Apparently, he kept missing work because he was more interested in staying up late partying and drinking. Luckily, Gerard had an ambition of becoming famous and ultimately achieved that goal through acting.

America Ferrera took a decade to earn her degree in international relations

College: University of Southern California
Subject Studied: International relations
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Year of Graduation: 2013

2023 has been a wonderful year for America Ferrara. In the summer, she had a central role in the fantasy comedy movie ‘Barbie,’ which stands as Warner Bros.'s highest-grossing film. The picture marks another successful role after standing out in the dramedy series ‘Ugly Betty’ and the sitcom ‘Superstore.’ It also comes a decade after she graduated from college.

Earning her diploma was not easy by any means. She actually started college in the early 2000s, receiving a presidential scholarship to study international relations. However, America ended up dropping out before she completed her degree to focus on acting. Luckily, over the years, she did manage to finish everything that was necessary to eventually graduate from USC.

Shaquille O’Neal has earned several degrees outside of the NBA

College: Louisiana State University / Barry University
Subject Studied: General studies / Human resource development
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts / Doctor of Education
Year of Graduation: 2000 / 2012

Shaquille O’Neal will always be one of the greatest players the NBA has ever seen. He spent almost two decades playing for various teams, becoming a four-time champion and even winning an Olympic gold medal. However, while he continues to have a career related to basketball, he knows it’s possible that this might not last forever.

That’s why he’s been quite devoted to his education over the years. After leaving Louisiana State University early to play in the NBA, Shaq eventually returned and earned his degree in general studies. He then worked on securing a Doctor of Education degree in human resource development - which he achieved in 2012 - and even considered attending law school.

Sigourney Weaver briefly considered being a writer or journalist before acting

College: Stanford University / Yale University
Subject Studied: English / Acting
Type of Degree: Bachelor of Arts / Master of Fine Arts
Year of Graduation: 1972 / 1974

Sigourney Weaver has earned no shortage of awards and nominations throughout her career. It’s maybe no surprise when you consider her roles in the sci-fi horror ‘Alien’ films, the supernatural comedy ‘Ghostbusters,’ and the sci-fi action ‘Avatar’ movies. The latter includes some of the highest-grossing films ever made, with the 2022 sequel generating $2.32 billion at the box office.

Weaver definitely trained for this, achieving a Master of Fine Arts in acting in 1974 from Yale University. Before that, though, she was allegedly more focused on a career as a writer or journalist. That’s why Weaver earned a Bachelor of Arts in English several years earlier. However, she soon had her head turned by acting.

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