Top 10 Celebs Who Went Back to College After Getting Famous
#10: America Ferrera
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Before she landed breakout roles in the TV show “Ugly Betty” and the “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” films, America Ferrera began studying at the University of Southern California on a presidential scholarship. The actress planned to double major in theatre and international relations, but eventually left school to focus on acting. In the ensuing years, Ferrera received numerous awards for her performances and became an outspoken advocate for political causes. She returned to USC nearly a decade after she originally enrolled to complete her studies. Ferrera was excited to finally get her degree, tweeting: “Took me 10 years, but it feels great.”
#9: Nick Cannon
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This television presenter, actor, and comedian has been a household name since the early 2000s, but only recently got a degree. The creator of the MTV improv comedy series “Wild ‘N Out” and former host of “America’s Got Talent” decided to go to Howard University in 2016 at the age of 35. He majored in Criminology and Administration of Justice with a minor in Africana Studies. Cannon graduated in May 2020, spoke at the virtual ceremony, and teased on Instagram that “masters and PHD is next!” If Cannon’s ability to balance his multifaceted career, growing family, and full-time studies is any indication, grad school should be a breeze.
#8: Megan Thee Stallion
Ready for a hot girl semester? Houston rapper Megan Thee Stallion is. She began her rise to stardom while enrolled at Prairie View A&M University, where she studied health administration. The original hot girl started sharing freestyle and cypher videos on social media while at school, and gained a large following. She took time off of school but enrolled at Texas Southern University a few years later. Although she’s now achieved several number one hits, Megan’s goal remains to complete her education in health administration and has discussed opening care facilities for the elderly in her hometown. She announced her plans to graduate in 2021 in the most Megan way possible — on her song, “Thot S—t.”
#7: Julia Stiles
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Who wasn’t at Columbia in the early aughts? The actress enrolled at the Ivy League school to study English Literature at the same time as her “10 Things I Hate About You” costar Joseph Gordon-Levitt as well as Oscar-winner Anna Paquin. Stiles even dated Gordon-Levitt while the two were at Columbia and living in the same building. While JGL and Paquin left before they could get their degrees, Stiles managed to juggle both her studies and her career, working on the “Bourne” films and even hosting “Saturday Night Live” in 2001. She graduated in 2005. The Columbia College Alumni Association has since recognized Stiles by giving her the John Jay Award in 2010 for her professional achievements.
#6: Jodie Foster
Already an Academy Award nominee for her role in Martin Scorsese’s 1976 film “Taxi Driver,” Foster began classes at Yale University in 1980. Foster continued acting while at school during summer vacations, but spent most of her time focusing on her full-time studies. Unfortunately, during her freshman year, Foster was stalked by John W. Hinckley Jr, who in March of 1981 attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in order to impress her. Following this incident, Foster needed bodyguards to accompany her around campus. Although the media attention and stress did not make her situation any easier, Foster graduated magna cum laude from Yale in 1985 with a degree in literature.
#5: Brooke Shields
This actress and model had already starred in a number of campaigns and films before putting her career on hold to go to Princeton University. She shot to fame for her leading roles in movies like “The Blue Lagoon” and “Endless Love” in the early eighties. In 1983, Shields enrolled at the Ivy League school. Shields’ fame didn’t disappear while she was in college, though — in her 2014 memoir, she recalled how paparazzi would dress like fellow students and follow her around campus. Nevertheless, she went on to graduate with a degree in Romance Languages. She even wrote an undergraduate thesis about the films of French director Louis Malle, including a section on a film she starred in at age 12 — 1978’s “Pretty Baby.”
#4: Mayim Bialik
Turns out “The Big Bang Theory” cast a real life nerd. After starring as the title character on the NBC sitcom “Blossom,” which ran from 1991-95, Bialik attended the University of California, Los Angeles. There, she majored in neuroscience and minored in Hebrew and Jewish studies. But she wasn’t done with school yet, as she returned to UCLA to get a Ph.D. in neuroscience, completing her dissertation in 2007. Three years later, Bialik joined “The Big Bang Theory” as neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler, a nod to her academic accomplishments.
#3: Cole & Dylan Sprouse
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These Disney Channel stars traded the “Suite Life” for school life when they enrolled at New York University. Both twins began classes at NYU’s Gallatin School after the conclusion of their “Suite Life” spin-off, “The Suite Life on Deck,” in 2011. At the Gallatin School, students design their own majors, making each experience different — Cole studied archaeology, while Dylan specialized in video game design. The School has been known to attract famous students, including fellow child star twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who attended for a brief time in 2004. Since graduating in 2015, the Sprouse twins have each returned to acting and begun to pursue other ventures.
#2: Natalie Portman
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Portman was already Queen of Naboo before moving to Harvard. The actress and director was an established star following her early role in “Léon: The Professional” in 1994, released when she was 13 years old. She was cast in the “Star Wars” prequel trilogy in the late nineties, making her a household name. But after graduating from high school in 1999, Portman decided to step back from acting and attend Harvard University. She studied psychology, neurobiology, and Hebrew literature. A committed student, Portman only had a few credits to her name during her school years, and mostly for roles she filmed during summer breaks. After graduating in 2003, she returned to acting and has maintained A-list status ever since. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Yara Shahidi Enrolled at Harvard in 2018, with a Letter of Recommendation From Michelle Obama Eva Longoria Completed a Master’s Degree While Working on the Final Season of “Desperate Housewives” Haley Joel Osment Graduated From NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts in 2011 Bridgit Mendler Earned an Undergraduate Degree in Anthropology & Is Now Working Towards a Ph.D.
#1: Emma Watson
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She may just be the real-life Hermione. Watson was just 11 when the first “Harry Potter” movie shot her to stardom. Before the final installment of the series was released, she began taking classes at Brown University. Although she had to take some time off school due to her acting commitments, Watson still graduated in five years’ time with a degree in English literature. Since then, Watson has put her higher learning to good use. She’s continued acting, serves as a UN Women Goodwill ambassador, and has started a variety of reading-related initiatives, including a feminist book club.
