Celebrities have a lot to teach the world about what it takes to become well known and successful. Whether through sheer talent and good fortune, years of study and hard work, or fortunate family background, the journey to celebrity tends to be somewhat different from most people’s experience.
If you’re trying to make a decision about your own career, you might get inspiration from your favorite celebrity by finding out a little more about their background. You might even take a similar degree, or follow famous footsteps by applying to attend a celebrity alma mater.
The education experts at DegreeQuery gathered information on 125 top celebrities and influencers, including literary legends, sports stars, actors, musicians, and fashion icons, to reveal the various different educational backgrounds that have led to fame.
Level of Education
The majority of the 125 celebrities featured in the study attained a High School Diploma, with only 10 people dropping out of school before that point. Formal education stopped there for 47 people, but 66 people continued to higher education. Of those, 45 achieved a Bachelor’s Degree, and 3 earned Master’s Degrees.
The most highly educated celebrities in the study were the star of Blossom and The Big Bang Theory, Mayim Bialik, who achieved a PhD in Neuroscience from UCLA, and the Community and Crazy Rich Asians actor, Ken Jeong, who has a PhD in Medicine from the University of North Carolina.
Type of Education
Homeschooling was a popular option for those who found celebrities early in life. 10 people, including Ariana Grande, Khloe Kardashian, and Kylie Jenner, finished their high school educations at home. Miley Cyrus was also homeschooled, although her star rose to the point where she didn’t finish her diploma.
Prestigious and competitive Ivy League colleges were also favored, by 6 celebrities, including Emma Watson, who studied English Literature at Brown, and Rashida Jones who studied Comparative Religion at Harvard.
Check out this interactive table to find out more.
