29 Celebrities with Unbelievable Degrees

It is often said that one should choose a major that defines their career later. However, this hardly seems to be the case as far as Hollywood celebrities are concerned. You would be surprised to know that most of our celebrities hold degrees that have nothing to do with the world of entertainment.

That’s true, folks. Today, we will feature 29 such celebrities who became Hollywood A-Listers while in college they pursued an entirely different career path. It is hard to imagine anyone else in the roles that they have performed on stage, in movies, and in television shows. Still, it seems awkward that after earning degrees in complex subjects like comparative religion, archaeology, and biochemical engineering, they ended up facing the camera. Such is the charisma of performing arts. Some of the celebrities left their studies halfway for their acting careers and later completed their degrees. So, are you ready to check out these celebs?

Megan Jovon Ruth Pete otherwise known as “Megan Thee Stallion” is a woman with multiple talents and determination. She is now officially a college graduated from Texas Southern University in a Bachelor of Arts in Health Administration. Ever since she started on this college journey back in 2013, getting her degree was always something she had wanted to complete for herself. Despite being a Grammy, BET, American Music Award winning musician, she was determined to get that college degree to make her mama proud. Sadly, back in March 2019, Holly Thomas, Megan’s mom died from brain cancer.

Lisa Kudrow has mainly done comical roles in her movies, and her primary claim to fame is the character Phoebe Buffet in F.R.I.E.N.D.S, which was also a quirky and funny one. That’s why Kudrow has a reputation as one of the most hilariously funny actors in the industry. But, contrary to her public image, the starlet is an intellectual and has even written several research papers. 

Reportedly, Lisa has a degree in biology. She attended Vassar College and graduated in 1985. Her father, Lee Kudrow, was an acclaimed neurologist, and that’s why she developed an interest in this subject. In fact, her father is the founder of the California Medical Clinic for Headache. Lisa worked with her father on a research project to determine whether right or left-handedness impacted migraines. The paper was published the same year when her sitcom F.R.I.E.N.D.S debuted. Here’s the reference for her paper. “Messinger, H. B., Messinger, M. I., Kudrow, L., & Kudrow, L. V. 1994. Handedness and headache. Cephalalgia 14, 64–67.”

Well known for her acting endowments, Rashida Leah Jones is a famous actress, writer, producer, and singer. Her professional acting debuts include the series “The Office”, “Boston Public” and the “Social Network” to mention a few. She has backed up vocals for the famed band, Maroon 5, as well as added vocals for songs like “It won’t be soon before long” and tracks of “Tangled” and “Secret” Although Hollywood runs through her veins, acting was never her stronger pursuit. Being the offspring of actress Peggy Lipton and Quincy Jones, the music director, Rashida was presumed to follow in her parents’ footsteps. 

Nevertheless, it was an eye-opener for everyone when Jones took up Comparative religion as a degree at Harvard. She exclaimed with fascination in an interview with NPR about her considerable interest in religion as she grew older. She also emphasized that being introduced to various religions at a very young age inspired her to pursue this subject in college.

John Will Ferrell is one of the most renowned American actors, comedians, producers, and writers. Will Ferrell grew up in Irvine, California, and mainly was a quiet kid during his early years. In high school, Ferrell showed a lot of interest in sports, specifically football, and he was one of the top scorers of his school. His mother described him as a simple, easy-going kid with a very even temper. 

He has been amusing his fellows since an early age. During his high school times, Ferrell would disguise his voice in order to make accouchements s each morning over the PA system. Ferrell graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, where he was a part of the Delta Tau fraternity and pursued sports journalism. In an alternate life, Will Ferrell would have been in sports management. 

As an Oscar-winner actress and a successful model, this Israeli American performer sweeps you off your feet with her petite appearance. She is a renowned actor, starting her career with “The Professional.” She went on to appear in some of the industry’s highest-grossing films like “No Strings Attached”, “The Black Swan”, Marvel’s “Thor” and the franchise “Star Wars”. Portman was nominated for Oscar and Golden Globe for her publicized character in the film “Jackie”. 

However, she is a formidably intelligent woman with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Harvard. After studying “anthropology of violence” from graduate school, she now confidently debates terrorism and negates any sort of violence. Her strong opinions against extremism originated during her shooting of the film “V for Vendetta,” as she called to mind her grandparents’ sufferings throughout the Holocaust.

Constance Elaine Britton is a famous American singer, actress, and producer, married to an investment banker, John Britton, in 1991 but got divorced four years later. Her parental roles have procured a loyal line of mass followers. She debuted with comedy-drama films but eventually did ABC sitcoms and sports, drama, thrillers, musical, and crime genre movies. Her notable works include films like “The Brothers McMullen”, “Spin City”, “Lost at Home”, “The Last Winter” and “Friday Night Lights.” 

Born to a physicist and energy company executive, Britton has majored in Asian Studies, concentrating on Chinese from Dartmouth College. She spent the summer season studying at Beijing Normal University. Her roommates included Kristen Gillibrand, who later became a New York senator. She also holds the honor of being the 10th Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Development Program, working under the anti-poverty agency of the UN. 

Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson is a renowned English activist, model, and actress. She was born in Paris and got her training as an actress at the Oxford branch, Stagecoach Theatre of Arts. Watson pursued English Literature and majored in it, which helped her rise to prominence in her professional roles, such as Hermione Granger in the famous Harry Potter series. She boasts her passion for connecting with people in her interview with Complex in 2014. She is very famous for women’s rights work. 

Her recognition was noticeable for her acting roles in independent films and blockbusters. Watson is ranked among the highest-paid actors in distinctive magazines like Vanity Fair and Forbes. She is also noted among the 100 most prominent people in the world by Time magazine. Her modeling career kicked off with her photoshoot for Teen Vogue, making her the youngest individual to cover the magazine. 

This Swedish actor, film maker and martial artist never intended to become an actor. One can say he stumbled into acting with his breaking role as the Soviet boxer antagonist Ivan Drago in Rocky IV. Dolph Lundgren also happens to have an IQ of 160 making him one of the most intelligent than most U.S. Presidents. Dolph has not only a chemical engineering degree from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology but went on to get his Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Australia.

While in Syndney, Dolph landed a part-time job and was Grace Jones’ personal bodyguard. He was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to M.I.T. and moved to Boston but after a few months in Boston, Grace and Dolph became romantically involved and she convinced him to drop out of M.I.T. and move to New York City to be with her and pursue acting instead.

X Generations will always remember her as Gwendolyn “Winnie” Cooper from “The Wonder Years” but this California born actress is so much more. She is not only an accomplished child actress but has also authored several mathematical related books… to help kids easily learn math such as Math Doesn’t Suck: How to Survive Middle School Math without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail. Danica graduated University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics.

Danica McKellar has appeared in season eighteen of Dancing with the Stars and was eliminated in the 8th week. She has also appeared in several Hallmark Channel movies and series. She was once married to composer Michael Verta which they had a son together, Draco. She is now married to attorney and former model Scott Sveslosky.

Mayim Chaya Bialik is an American author, game-show host, and actress but her befitting role in CBC sitcom The Big Bang Theory was credited to her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of California, Los Angeles. Her title character earned her nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She also won the Critic Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in years 2015 and 2017. 

She held back her acting career for 12 years at a stretch to pursue her unconventional degree in Neurosciences. In an interview with Forbes, she explained how she hoped that her progressive path inspires women to explore majors such as STEM. She believes that encouraging girls with realistic science-related situations can be beneficial in various aspects of life. She was hopeful that teachers and mentors would realize its importance and motivate students to explore Neurosciences from a very young age.

Rebel Melanie Elizabeth Wilson, an Australian comedian, actress, singer, writer, and producer, is mainly known for her hilarious characters like Toula of Pizza, a SBS comedy series, and The Wedge, a Sketch comedy series. She also was the writer and producer of the musical comedy series Bogan Pride. She also holds an award for Tropfest Best actress. 

At the age of 19, Wilson was a Rotary International Youth Ambassador in Australia. She holds a Bachelor of law degree from the University of New South Wales. She proudly advocated the fact that her major would be beneficial in prosecuting the criminals at hand. After her near-death experience with the deadly ailment, Malaria, she pursued acting and did her Bachelors in Arts, Theatre, and Performance Studies from the same university. In 2016, Wilson told Seth Meyers that people often undervalue her degree, which disturbs her. “A lot of people look at me and think I’m stupid. But no, I graduated from a school that’s kind of like the Harvard of Australia.”

Eva Jacqueline Longoria Bastón is an American producer and actress. She is recognized for her roles in various television series as well as the famous CBC daytime soap opera The Young and Restless, where she played the supporting role from 2001 to 2003. She is also well-known for her role as Gabrielle in the television series The Desperate Housewives. Baston is an intelligent woman, earning a Bachelors’ in Kinesiology from Texas A&M University, Kingsville back in 1998, the same year she was crowned Miss Corpus Christie, Texas. In 2013, Eva went back to school and got her Master Degree in Chicano Studies from California State University at Northridge (CSUN).

Her inquisitive nature opened venues of being a personal trainer, occupational therapist, and physical therapist, but life took another turn and landed her into the world of soap opera. She later entered Primetime, leading to a successful stable acting position. She is also engaged in different charities, founding Eva’s heroes, the organization enriching lives of challenged people. She is also the national spokesperson for Padres Contra el Cancer, helping Latino children with Cancer.

Kourtney Mary Kardashian is a famous American socialite, model, social media personality, and reality TV star. As an influencer, she and her family have been starring in the reality television series Keeping up with the Kardashians since 2007. The successful enterprise paved the way for other spin-offs like Kourtney and Kim Take New York and Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami.

Kardashian is mainly involved in fashion and retail businesses, launching clothing and apparel lines and fragrances. Her published book Kardashian Konfidential in 2010 and her website Poosh in 2019 created quite a stir. The love for the spotlight led to elevating her education and earning a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Arizona. She emphasizes how her college degree groomed her personality and shaped her life for the better. She credits her degree to her debut in the entertainment field. Although her acting skills were criticized, she has held a prominent place among the most sought-after celebrities. 

Gabrielle Monique Union is among the most respected actresses of her time. This American actor began her acting career in the year 1990 with appearances in various television sitcoms as well as in teenage comedy films as a supporting actress. Her big breakthrough role was in Bring it On, 2000. She is most famous for her acting roles in romantic comedy films and features. 

Union never wanted to pursue acting as a career. She went to the University of Nebraska and later got transferred to UCLA for her majors in Law. However, she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. She also landed in a modeling agency, serving as an internee, where she was later signed up as a model. This profitable path helped her pay off her student loans. Nevertheless, the agency soon discovered her acting skills, and she was sent off for auditions leading to successful ventures being grabbed. 

Jo Issa Rae Diop is an American writer, producer, and actress. Professionally, she is credited for her notable works on the YouTube channel. Her New York times bestseller web series The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, along with short films and content presented by people of color, is noteworthy. She has a unique sense of humor. Moreover, Issa has received multiple Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for the hit HBO show, Insecure. She is known as the most powerful voice of Black People in Hollywood.

Rae is well-qualified and graduated with a Minor in Political Science and a degree in African American studies from Stanford University. Her degree further fueled her creative skills leading to performances, musicals, and mockumentaries at school. She believes that empowering women, especially minorities, will create a sustainable change in society and uplift the struggles of Black people and those of people belonging to other colors and races. 

Dakota Fanning is no stranger to the world of entertainment. After all, she has been acting since the age of seven, can you believe that? Her big break occurred in 2001 when she was signed in I Am Sam in the role of Sean Penn’s 7-year-old daughter. Though Dakota had a successful career as a child star and the road ahead was equally promising, she still decided to take a break from acting to pursue her college degree.

Eventually, Dakota Fanning enrolled in the prestigious New York University and earned a degree in Women’s Studies. Dakota specialized in the portrayal of women in culture and film. Later, this degree led her to make responsible and wise career choices. Fanning is known for choosing her scripts after in-depth evaluation and examination. And, her focus has been on portraying roles of dynamic females on the screen.

Who would believe that the femme fatale of the late 1980s and 1990s holds a degree in French Literature? It is widely believed that Brooke Shields entered the entertainment industry as a model. However, in reality, it is the opposite, as she got her big break in acting when she was just 13-years-old. Brooke landed a starring role in Pretty Baby, released in 1978. 

This particular role impacted her career as well as her personality alike. Not just that she got noticed at an early age, the role stayed with her and led to her enrollment in Princeton University in 1987, where she studied French Literature. Do you know the topic of her senior year thesis? You would be surprised to know that she did a thesis on this topic- “The Initiation- From Innocence to Experience- The Pre-Adolescent/Adolescent Journey in the Films of Louis Malle, Pretty Baby, and Lacombe Lucien.”

So far, we have checked out many such celebrities who have obtained unexpected degrees. However, Cole Sprouse’s degree tops the list of unexpected degrees. In fact, if we don’t reveal it to you, you may never guess the academic degree of the Riverdale star. Well, Cole holds a degree in geographical Information systems and satellite imaging. 

Sprouse graduated from New York University. This degree is pretty unconventional, given that he eventually chose to become an actor. The actor later explained what this degree is all about when he appeared on Live with Kelly and Ryan. According to Cole Sprouse, this degree is similar to virtual cartography. He also explained that he aimed to use it as a specialty degree in the field of archaeology. The actor has been a part of various excavations, and one of them is the excavation in Bulgaria conducted in 2013.

Here’s a celebrity with a double major. Allison Williams graduated from Yale University with a degree in English and Archaeology, and Williams is often asked why she chose to do a double major. In an interview with Town & Country, she addressed this query and stated that she was always inclined to dig deep and think about things from various perspectives.  “I found them to be a lot of, like, lying on the ground thinking about things.”

But why did she choose to become an actor? Answering this question, Allison revealed that acting was always on her mind whenever she thought about her career path, despite having majored in something completely the opposite. According to Williams, she pursued English and Archaeology only because she was deeply interested in these subjects and ventured into acting because she wanted to become an actor. “I kind of just knew that if I worked hard at it and I continued to love it, it would be okay. Plus, my father is someone who had a dream and accomplished it, so I grew up in a house where that was possible,” Allison explained.

America Ferrera is known for her brilliant acting. Still, not many people know that she was about to complete her degree in International Relations at the University of Southern California when she was offered her first acting gig. It was a difficult decision, but Ferrera gave in to the temptation and shifted her focus to acting, leaving her degree incomplete.

It took over a decade for America to resume studies and complete her degree, and she was able to finish her degree in 2013. But, let’s appreciate that she wanted to complete her degree and returned to the university. Recently, America shared that whatever she learned has helped her in all aspects of her life. “I am using so much of what I learned in the School of International Relations in my life. I’ve learned about the root causes of so many issues I’m passionate about and how to improve people’s lives. Sometimes the issues have taken me across the world, sometimes here in our own backyard,” Ferrera said.

Serena Williams, undoubtedly, is a highly revered, globally recognized, and one of the highest-paid athletes worldwide. But, what took us by surprise is the degree she holds. Well, it seems as if tennis isn’t her sole area of interest, and she is equally passionate about fashion, and that’s true because she has a degree in fashion.

Serena attended the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale and earned a fashion degree, after which she launched her personal fashion line. While launching her fashion line in 2018, the iconic athlete revealed that it had been one of her oldest dreams to venture into the world of fashion. While speaking with Essence, Serena revealed that- “My biggest joy is that I know that I’m doing something that I’ve always wanted to do, that I always dreamed of doing. I went to fashion school back in the early 2000s. This didn’t just pop up for me. It’s something I’ve literally been doing and designing for my whole life.”

The music maestro reportedly was always interested in music. So, it seems a bit strange that he chose to study and earn a degree in English. That too, with a sharp focus on African-American Literature. Legend graduated from the University of Pennsylvania back in 1999. “I had followed the path that the Penn graduate was supposed to take, but I didn’t fall in love. I couldn’t shake my passion for music.”

Though John Legend’s focus remained on Literature, his passion lay somewhere else. Music excited him the most, so he decided to become a musician, and the rest is history. John went on to record his albums and served as the president of Counterparts, a cappella jazz group of the university while studying English. Legend graduated magna cum laude, and following the footsteps of most of his classmates, he joined the prestigious Boston Consulting Group as a corporate consultant. In 2014 at his alma mater, John stated that music remained his first love.

It is a widely known fact that Ashton has a twin brother, Michael Kutcher. But not many know that Michael has cerebral palsy, due to which he had to undergo a heart transplant. His brother’s health and diagnosis largely influenced Ashton’s career choices. 

Ashton was inspired to study biochemical engineering, and he got enrolled at the prestigious University of Iowa, hoping to find a cure for the disorder his brother suffered from. However, it is clear that Kutcher wasn’t destined to make a career in the field of engineering because despite pursuing a degree in biochemical engineering, he landed in the world of entertainment. Ashton quit university to participate in a modeling contest and later got his big break in That 70s Show. Mr. Kutcher went on to become one of the highest-paid Hollywood stars.

Carrie Underwood is one of the most favorite singers and songwriters of Americans today. This sensational singer made her way to people’s hearts by first appearing on American Idol Season 4 and then winning it. The singer has won numerous Grammy, CMA, and ACM awards. 

The uber-talented Carrie Underwood was raised on a farm in Oklahoma. After graduating from high school, Carrie opted for a degree in journalism and mass communications from Northeastern University in 2016 with a degree in mass communications. Before becoming a singer, Carrie Underwood wanted to pursue a career in TV news. During her senior year in the university, Carrie decided to try her luck singing and take the auditions for American Idol season 4. Not only did she qualify for it, but she also claimed first prize in the show. 

There is hardly anyone who doesn’t know of the iconic name of Vera Wang. When it comes to weddings and red carpet shows, Vera Wang is undeniably the best. She has been dressing the most celebrities from time to time, from Michelle Obama to Ariana Grande; Vera Wang is the go-to designer for every celebrity. 

As the name suggests, Vera Wang was born to Chinese parents who immigrated to the United States a little before she was born. It would come as a surprise if we disclosed that Vera Wang never had a degree in fashion. Vera Wang has always been artistic, but she didn’t go to college thinking she would become a designer. The 72-year designer pursued a career in art history from Sarah Lawrence College. Wang started figure skating when she was in high school and completed the United States Figure Skating Championship in 1968. Later on, Wang intended to become part of the US Olympics team but failed to do so. It was after this point that Vera Wang decided to have a career in fashion. 

Rooney Mara is an American actress famous for her role in ‘Girl with the dragon tattoo.’ Mara was raised in Bedford, New York, a small town located 40 kilometers from New York City. The actress graduated from Fox Lane high school in 2003. She then went to Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru for a few months as a part of the traveling school to experience the open learning environment. Later on, Mara attended George Washington University for a short time before transferring to New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study to study psychology, international social policy, and nonprofits. 

Along with being a famous and full-time actress, Mara has been involved in philanthropic activities. She has founded a Charity organization known as Faces of Liberia that works for providing food, shelter, and medical care for orphans in the slums of Nairobi known as Liberia. 

Dwayne Johnson, known as the rock, has become one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood. Dwayne Johson was born into a wrestling family, gifted with remarkable strength, agility, speed, and size. Johnson made his World Wrestling Federation debut in 1996 and quickly made a mark. The rock had wrestling matches with some of the biggest stars of WWF and won several world championships. 

Dwayne Johnson has been gifted with impeccable microphone skills and a charismatic personality. You will be surprised to know that the mummy returns star doesn’t have a degree in theater or anything close to performing arts. Dwayne Johnson went to the University of Miami and earned a Bachelor of General Studies degree in criminology and physiology in 1995. According to the rock himself, getting through university wasn’t the happiest of times, but he got through it.

Kerry Washington is a well-known American producer and a fine actress. Born and brought up in Newyork city, the actress had an interest in acting and theater from a young age. Before making her way to American Television, Kerry Washington Joined George Washington University, where she majored in anthropology and sociology to get a degree with broader career options. According to Kerry Washington, The subject she chose would also help her understand various roles in her acting career.                

“I also had a feeling that studying liberal arts, in particular, social science, could maybe make me a better artist, right?” she told Backstage magazine. “If my job as an actor is to embody human reality and human beings in their journey through time, maybe knowing more about history and psychology and sociology could help me understand my role as an artist in embodying people.”

Uzo Aduba, yet another American Actress famous for her role in the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black, was born to Nigerian parents in Boston and grew up in Medfield, Massachusetts. The actress, during her career, won several awards, including the Emmy awards. 

Coming from a sports family, the actress won an athletic scholarship to Boston University, earning a degree in voice performance. 

While still being at the university, the actress is said to have developed an interest in acting. Many of her teachers and fellow students motivated her to pursue a career in acting. 

Generally, people with degrees in vocal performance either choose classical music performance career paths or a professional voice teacher. Due to her exceptional and voice-over skills, Uzo Aduba chose a career in acting in Hollywood. 

Gene Simons is an American musician, singer, and songwriter known for being the KISS’s – a frontman rock band from the 1970s. Gene Simons was born in Israel, which his mother was one of the Holocaust survivors. At the age of 8, he, along with his mother, left the country and migrated to New York, United States. Simmons was able to learn English through television and comic books. It was during his time in the public school that Simmons developed an interest in music. 

Along with maintaining his dreams of stardom, Simmons also didn’t want to disappoint his mother, who wanted him to get a college degree. Gene Simmons went to the Sullivan County Community College to earn his associate degree in education. Later, he returned to New York, attended Richmond College, and finished his Bachelor’s degree in education. The information might come to you as a surprise, but the musician even taught sixth grade before his music career took off.

Martha Stewart is a famous American retail businesswoman, television personality, and writer. Her retail business is famous for her cookbooks and cookware. Martha Stewart gained popularity after writing her books based on cooking, entertaining, and decorating. Later on, she expanded her business by launching a lifestyle magazine and a television program. 

Martha was born in New Jersey in 1941 and started her career during her teenage years by appearing in fashion shows, shoots, and various television advertisements. The college degree that Stewart has is not even close to her professional life. Martha Stewart went to the Barnard College of Columbia based in Manhattan to pursue a degree in European and architectural history in 1962. Surprising, isn’t it? 

Chris Martin is an English Musician, singer, and songwriter, famous for his alternative rock band, Coldplay. Martin was born in Exeter Devon, England, as the oldest of five siblings. It was during his school years where Martin found his passion for music. Along with other fellows of his band, Coldplay, Chris Martin has several awards, including the Grammy Awards to their name. 

The Viva La Vida singer has a degree that neither relates to music or any form of performing arts. After finishing his boarding school in Dorset, England, Martin enrolled in University College London ( Along with his other band members ), where his subjects were Ancient World Studies. Chris Martin graduated with achieving first-class honors in Greek and Latin.