13 Celebrities with College Degrees

With Lindsay Lohan’s latest jail sentence, it seems as if more and more teen scandals have been hitting Hollywood, and the culprits are only getting younger. With all of the chaos in a celebrity’s life—drugs, parties, and relationships—it’s no wonder that most of them end up dropping out of school; there’s just no time for education! But, here are a few celebrities who have broken the mold, and stuck with learning:

1. Natalie Portman

Besides getting major roles in box-office hits like Star Wars and V for Vendetta, Natalie Portman has also co-written two published scientific research papers, entered the Intel Science Search, and is fluent in four languages. So, it should be no surprise that she went on to pursue academic success at Harvard, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology. As Natalie says, “I’d rather be smart than a movie star.”

2. Jodie Foster

You might know her as the Coppertone Girl, or Erica Bain from The Brave One, but you probably don’t know her as a Yale alumnus. You heard me correctly: not only did Jodie graduate (from an Ivy League school) with a bachelor’s degree in English; she also earned an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree in 1997. Impressive? We think so.

3. Ashton Kutcher

Husband of actress Demi Moore, producer of Punk’d, co-producer of Beauty and the Geek, and a regular voice on Robot Chicken, Ashton Kutcher seems to be all entertainment! But, believe it or not, there is a more serious side to this comedian; during his college years, he pursued studies in science in order to try to discover a cure for his brother’s Cardiomyopathy (inflammation of the heart muscles). Although he didn't finish his studies, Kutcher pursued a degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Iowa.

4. Tim Allen

Born to a community service worker and a real estate agent, Tim Allen might have grown up to be just another average Joe. Instead, he went on to become the beloved Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story, and the comical Scott Calvin in The Santa Clause. Ever wonder how he did it? Maybe his college education had something to do with it; after all, Tim did receive a Bachelor of Science degree in communications from Western Michigan University. No wonder he has done so many interviews!

5. Lisa Kudrow

She might be the ditzy, clueless blonde on Friends, but Lisa Kudrow shares no resemblance with her TV persona, Phoebe, in real life. After receiving her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Vassar—one of the top liberal arts colleges in the United States—Lisa researched headaches for eight years before pursing a career in acting.

6. Rowan Atkinson

Mr. Bean, a college graduate? You’d better believe it! Rowan Atkinson began acting in comedy sketches while he was at Oxford University, while simultaneously pursing his studies. He graduated with a Master of Science in electrical engineering.

7. Brooke Shields

A model at 11 months old and the star of Pretty Baby at age 12, Brook Shields has certainly leapt into the world of showbiz from an early age, winning four People’s Choice awards for Favorite Young Performer! With all of her big achievements in acting, you would think that she would have little time for school—but apparently not; Brooke attended Princeton University, graduating with a degree in French Literature. C’est formidable, non?

8. Weird Al Yanovic

Before he wrote popular songs parodying Michael Jackson and the Backstreet boys, Alfred Matthew Yankovic—better known as Weird Al—was a straight A student, and valedictorian of his high school. He graduated at just sixteen years old, and attended California Polytechnic State University, where he received a Bachelor’s degree in architecture. Maybe Weird Al isn’t so eccentric after all...

9. Sandra Bullock

Maybe she’s the star of The Blind Side, but Sandra Bullock is anything but blind to the opportunities a college degree can offer; the actress and producer received her bachelor’s degree in drama from East Carolina University.

10. Renee Zelleweger

Whether she’s the humorous Bridget Jones, or the ruthless Roxie Hart in Chicago, there is only one thing that’s certain about Renee Zelleweger—she’s as much of an amazing student as she is an actress! After making the Dean’s list several times at the University of Texas, Renee obtained her BA in English. Ironically, the only reason why she began acting was to redeem the necessary fine arts credits for graduation!

11. Oprah Winfrey

Despite her troubling childhood of incest and teen pregnancy, Oprah Winfrey has managed to create a spotlight for herself. After getting her own radio show at 19 years old, Oprah attended Tennessee State University, graduating with a B.A in Speech and Drama. Soon, after the creation of The Oprah Winfrey Show, the award-winning, billionaire talk show host became something of a phenomenon—she was even described as “the world’s most influential woman.”

12. Julia Stiles

Best known for her role in the teen romantic comedy,10 things I hate about you, Julia Stiles has been an actress for 18 years, involved in about 17 productions so far. On top of that, she has also managed to graduate from Columbia University, with a degree in English Literature. You go, Julia!

13. Tina Fey

If you’ve ever watched Mean Girls or Saturday Night Live, you probably already know who Tina Fey is: an Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning producer, actress and comedian. To what does she owe her success? It’s hard to say, but her Bachelor of Arts degree, from the University of Virginia, certainly must have helped!