Famous people can chase dreams and study! Lots of beloved stars earned surprising college degrees. They learned diverse skills, balancing fame and education. Check out our list to see who pursued both paths!
Natalie Portman, a Harvard graduate, stars as Marvel's Jane Foster. She balanced acting with psychology studies, even living in dorms. Portman graduated in 2003, juggling studies and acting gigs in New York.
Gene Simmons moved from Israel to New York City, where he finished high school and attended Richmond College and Sullivan County Community College. Surprisingly, he earned a bachelor's degree in education, revealing his passion for teaching beneath his KISS persona. Despite his rock star image, Simmons is a teacher at heart.
Eva Longoria, famous actress, is also a passionate activist and academic. Despite her acting career, she holds a bachelor's degree in kinesiology from Texas A&M University-Kingsville and a master's degree in Chicano Studies from California State University, Northridge, using her education for social change.
Bradley Cooper, famous for movies like A Star Is Born and Guardians of the Galaxy, holds a bachelor’s degree in English. He studied at Villanova and Georgetown University before honing his acting skills at the Actors Studio in New York City, leading to his appearance on Inside the Actors Studio.
Will Ferrell started with broadcasting but shifted to comedy after graduating from the University of Southern California in 1990. His communication skills helped him become a famous comedian, known for his role as Buddy the Elf in Elf (2003). He's popular in movies and TV.
James Franco earned his undergraduate degree while filming Spider-Man 3 at UCLA through independent study. Later, he attended Columbia, NYU, and Brooklyn College for his MFA, and he's reportedly pursuing a PhD at Yale since 2010.
Pauley Perrette, known as Abby Sciuto on NCIS, retired from acting. She was loved for her role as a forensic scientist due to her real-life expertise. Despite her fame, she might resume her criminal justice studies.
J.K. Rowling, who made Hogwarts famous, studied French at the University of Exeter. Her love for French culture inspired Beauxbatons, a school in South France in the Harry Potter series. French influence can also be seen in some magical spells she created.
Brian May, the guitarist of Queen, defied norms by being both a musician and an astrophysicist. He co-founded Queen, leaving an incredible cultural impact, then earned a PhD in 2007. Later, he served as a Chancellor at Liverpool John Moores University.
Stephanie Meyer, famous for Twilight, has had an English degree from Brigham Young University since 1997. She wrote four main novels, a novella, and more stories in the Twilight universe. She also worked on movie adaptations and other books beyond Twilight.
Gabrielle Union, an accomplished actress, holds a sociology degree from UCLA. She started with minor roles in shows like Saved By the Bell and Star Trek but truly shined as Shawn in Sister, Sister. Over the years, she's excelled in diverse roles, including 10 Things I Hate About You in 1999.
Knowing Latin and Greek might enhance songwriting skills, as seen in musician Chris Martin, who excelled in these languages at University College London. Coldplay's debut album, "Parachutes," was a hit, but their biggest success came with the song "Viva La Vida," making them one of the most renowned bands of their time. While Martin explored solo projects, Coldplay remains their iconic legacy.
Sacha Baron Cohen is a versatile actor who plays various roles in different movie types. He's famous for being funny and satirical in the Borat movies. Surprisingly, he studied history, focusing on antisemitism, at Cambridge University, where he also acted in theater productions.
Freddie Highmore, famous for acting, surprised many with his degrees in Spanish and Arabic from Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He played Peter in Finding Neverland and Charlie Bucket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Highmore also interned at a bank and a law firm alongside his acting.
Danai Gurira studied social psychology at Macalester College in Minnesota and later earned a fine arts degree from New York University. She showcased her talent through playwriting and made her Broadway debut before capturing hearts as Okoye in Black Panther and the Avengers movies.
Allison Williams, famous for TV and movies, was Kit Snicket in A Series of Unfortunate Events. She studied at Yale, graduating in 2010, and later pursued acting, marking the start of her successful career.
Lisa Kudrow, famous for playing Phoebe on Friends, is not just a ditzy character. She earned a biology degree from Vassar College and actively worked as a scientist, researching cluster headaches in left-handed individuals while pursuing acting.
Ashton Kutcher, known from That '70s Show, isn't just a funny actor. He studied Biochemical Engineering at the University of Iowa. He's also a passionate activist fighting human trafficking, showing us we can achieve anything.
Mayim Bialik, who played Amy Farrah Fowler on Big Bang Theory, is a real-life genius with a PhD in neuroscience from UCLA. Despite her acting career starting young, she managed to balance college and work, taking breaks to focus on her studies. Her hard work paid off, allowing her to portray her character with the right intelligence!
David Duchovny, known for Californication, holds a master's degree in English literature from Yale University and a bachelor's degree from Princeton University. Although he didn't complete his Ph.D., he received awards for poetry and began a dissertation on Magic and Technology in Contemporary Fiction and Poetry.
Carrie Underwood, a talented singer, studied mass communication at Northwestern State University from 2001 to 2006. During college, she auditioned for American Idol, winning season four and launching her music career. Despite her success, she completed her degree, becoming a remarkable figure in country music.
Rebel Wilson, the funny actress, is also a serious scholar. She studied law and theatre at the University of New South Wales. You might recognize her from Pitch Perfect and Bridesmaids.
Emma Watson studied at Brown University and played field hockey. She graduated in environmental engineering. Known as Hermione Granger, she's a UN activist for women's rights.
Lionel Richie, a music industry veteran, excels in roles like songwriter, performer, and producer. He's not just a music expert; he's also skilled in economics, thanks to his education at Tuskegee Institute and membership in Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Richie's diverse knowledge enriches his business insights into the music world.
Dylan and Cole Sprouse, stars of Disney's Suite Life series, went to New York University. Cole studied archaeology, while Dylan focused on video games, not acting. Later, they returned to acting in different projects.
Weird Al, legally Alfred Yankovic, is a famous American singer known for his funny songs about everyday things. He jokes about current events and pop culture, inspiring comedians like Bo Burnham. Surprisingly, he has an architecture degree and was his high school's valedictorian.
Wanda Sykes is a famous comedian, known for her stand-up and roles in movies like Bad Moms and Evan Almighty. She's also been in the show Vampirina. She studied marketing at Hampton University and was part of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
Rooney Mara, famous for "The Social Network" and "Dragon Tattoo," studied at NYU, acted in student films, and graduated in 2010. Her sister is actress Kate Mara.
Julia Stiles showed talent at 11, acting with La MaMa Theatre. Later, she studied literature at Columbia University, earning a degree and an award for her acting, like her role in 10 Things I Hate About You (1999).
Comedian Ken Jeong is also a doctor! He studied at Duke University and UNC School of Medicine. He loves acting and comedy too, starting back in his Duke days.