{"id":140364,"date":"2025-09-07T23:13:10","date_gmt":"2025-09-07T23:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/140364\/"},"modified":"2025-09-07T23:13:10","modified_gmt":"2025-09-07T23:13:10","slug":"12-stars-who-went-back-to-school-later-in-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/140364\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Stars Who Went Back To School Later In Life"},"content":{"rendered":"

“I wasn’t at all intimidated by the fact I would be decades older than the majority of graduates.”<\/p>\n

Fame and fortune may be nice\u2026but sometimes it gets in the way of the more normal things in life. For some major stars, they ended up having to drop out of school in order to pursue their careers, leaving behind their dreams of walking across the stage on graduation day. And despite their celebrity status, these famous faces say they always held on to their dreams of getting a college degree — and that\u2019s why they decided to return to school later in life. While they may not have gotten the same experience as some younger students, these celebs all walked away with a college diploma.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Find out what these celebs said about their college experience\u2026<\/p>\n

Glen Powell<\/p>\n

Glen Powell <\/a>had just finished his freshman year at the University of Texas at Austin when he decided to move to Los Angeles to pursue his dreams of becoming an actor. Although he put his education on hold, he decided to return to school years later. By the time his career took off following Top Gun: Maverick, he only had two credits left to graduate — and had to finish up school while working on his film, The Running Man.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not going to be sitting in a class with other students on the regular. I\u2019m basically going to be coming back because I have to finish up, but I\u2019m going to be shooting The Running Man in the fall. So I\u2019m going to be in London, but I am going to be going back for proctored exams. So, they\u2019re letting me figure it out [with] distance learning,\u201d he told IndieWire<\/a>.<\/p>\n

He continued, \u201cAnd I\u2019m obviously going to be coming in, Zooming in for classes and whatnot, but I have to be back for the proctored exams. So, we\u2019re figuring that out for two or three times a semester, I\u2019ll come back for all my stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leah Remini<\/p>\n

In 2021, Leah Remini <\/a>decided to return to school, attending college for the very first time. Growing up in Scientology, Leah had only received an 8th grade education. It took her decades to decide to pursue higher education, explaining that she didn\u2019t think she was smart enough — but she was eventually accepted to New York University and later earned her associate\u2019s degree. She\u2019s now working on her bachelor\u2019s degree.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThree years ago, I embarked on a terrifying journey: becoming a college student at the age of 50 after only having an 8th-grade education and spending 35 years in a totalitarian cult. After three years of hard work, long nights, tears, and wanting to give up so many times, I have earned an associate\u2019s degree from NYU,\u201d Leah wrote on Instagram<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

She added, \u201cI know I am in a position of privilege that has offered me the flexibility to do this. But over the past three years, I\u2019ve heard from thousands of people, especially women, who have decided to take the leap at an older age and get their GED or pursue a college education. Whether a cult used to control your life, you have a full-time job as a stay-at-home parent, or full-time job(s) outside of the home,\u00a0 it\u2019s never too late to continue your education and pursue what you have always wanted to achieve for yourself!\u201d<\/p>\n

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Anthony Anderson<\/p>\n

In 2022, Anthony Anderson<\/a> officially graduated from college — an accomplishment decades in the making. The actor previously attended Howard University as a young man but ran out of money for tuition after his junior year and was forced to drop out. Years later, when his son Nathan enrolled in the school, Anthony decided it was time to finally finish his degree. He worked with the university on a specialized curriculum that he could take online — and ended up finishing around the same time as his son.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWords can\u2019t begin to describe the emotional roller coaster I\u2019m on right now. It\u2019s literally been 30 years in the making,\u201d he wrote on Instagram<\/a>. \u201cThis spring I was finally able to complete the work to graduate from Howard University with a BFA degree from the Chadwick A Boseman College of Fine Arts! Yesterday was a full circle moment. It\u2019s never too late! Things happen when they\u2019re supposed to happen\u2026Thank you to my son for inspiring me to return to school to finish my degree after he was accepted into Howard University. This is just the beginning!\u201d<\/p>\n

Bryce Dallas Howard<\/p>\n

Bryce Dallas Howard<\/a> attended New York University as a teenager but never completed her degree because she got an Off-Broadway acting job. Despite leaving school, she always intended to return and constantly deferred her degree instead of dropping out. She eventually returned to campus and graduated in 2020.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t at all intimidated by the fact I would be decades older than the majority of graduates. My husband and I did the math and realized that many babies born the year I first started NYU were probably graduating alongside me, which made me even more excited. How wild, how weird, and what a great story,\u201d Bryce told People<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Oprah Winfrey<\/p>\n

Oprah Winfrey<\/a> was just one credit shy of graduating from Tennessee State University, which she attended while she was working as a news anchor for CBS. Her work commitments prevented her from obtaining that final credit but when she was asked to return to the school to speak at its commencement years later, she knew she had to graduate first. She ended up completing the coursework and turning in her final paper before taking the stage at the ceremony.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d made a movie, had been nominated for an Oscar and founded my company, Harpo. But I told them, I cannot come and give a speech unless I can earn one more credit…So, I finished my coursework, I turned in my final paper and I got the degree,\u201d Oprah said<\/a> in a speech at Stanford.<\/p>\n

Eva Longoria<\/p>\n

While Eva Longoria<\/a> was starring on Desperate Housewives she obtained her master’s degree in Chicano and Chicana Studies from California State University Northridge. She was inspired to return to school after reading Occupied America, which was written by a professor at the university.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wrote the author and I said, \u2018I would love to sit with you one day and pick your brain. This book changed my life.\u2019 And he said, \u2018Come on down, I\u2019m at CSUN.\u2019…So, I got to meet with him and interview him about the struggles of Mexican-Americans in the U.S. And he said, \u2018You should take my class. It\u2019s online. It\u2019s Chicano Studies 101.\u2019 I took one online class, and I was hooked…It was so fulfilling in a way I couldn\u2019t even imagine,\u201d Eva told CSUN Magazine<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Ashley Judd<\/p>\n

Ashley Judd\u2019s<\/a> educational journey took her almost two decades. While she initially enrolled at the University of Kentucky as a teen, she ended up dropping out when she was just one course short of graduating in order to pursue her acting career. She finally completed her degree 17 years later, graduating with a bachelor\u2019s degree in French in 2007, per The Hollywood Reporter<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

She went on to continue her education and in 2010, she received her Master\u2019s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University\u2019s Kennedy School of Government. Then in 2016, she was accepted into UC Berkeley\u2019s Ph.D. program in public policy.<\/p>\n

America Ferrera<\/p>\n

After landing some smaller roles, including the lead in Disney Channel\u2019s Gotta Kick It Up, America Ferrera<\/a> began her degree at the University of Southern California. When she was cast in Ugly Betty she ended up having to take an extended leave of absence but returned to finish her degree a decade later. In 2012, she graduated with a degree in International Relations.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m walking in my college graduation in 3 days from @USCDornsife! It\u2019s finally happening! Took me 10 years, but it feels great,\u201d America tweeted at the time.<\/p>\n

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James Franco<\/p>\n

James Franco<\/a> initially enrolled at UCLA as a teenager but after just a year at the school, he dropped out to pursue an acting career. Years later, he decided to return because he felt that he was missing the challenge of academia in his life. He was able to convince the university to allow him to take an intensive courseload, at one point taking 62 credits in one quarter — three times the allowable maximum. In 2008, he graduated with a bachelor\u2019s degree in English with a focus on creative writing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to take more classes than that. I wasn\u2019t going back to school just to get by with a little amount of work,\u201d James told UCLA Magazine<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Nick Cannon<\/p>\n

In 2016, Nick Cannon<\/a> was 35 and decided to enroll at Howard University. He explained<\/a> that after being diagnosed with lupus several years prior, he had a new lease on life and wanted to make sure that he accomplished all that he dreamed of doing. He also wanted to be a good influence on his kids as well as other children who looked up to him. In 2020, he graduated with a bachelor\u2019s degree in criminology\/administration of justice with a minor in African studies — and had the chance to speak during the virtual commencement ceremony.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI am always seeking new challenges and continual growth and decided to obtain my first college degree from an institution that has a proven legacy of producing great minds,\u201d Nick shared in his speech<\/a>. \u201cI have friends, mentors and colleagues who attended Howard University. I look forward to this new journey in my life and am excited about the possibilities ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Michael Jordan<\/p>\n

Basketball superstar Michael Jordan<\/a> played for the University of North Carolina as a teenager but when he was a junior, he was drafted into the NBA, leaving his college life behind. After playing professionally for several years, he returned to school in 1986 to finish his degree, eventually receiving a bachelor\u2019s degree in Cultural Geography.<\/p>\n

Steven Spielberg<\/p>\n

Almost four decades after dropping out of Cal State Long Beach, Steven Spielberg<\/a> returned to campus to complete his degree. He reportedly studied a variety of subjects during his time in school, including a Natural Science class.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe turned in his term paper just like everyone else. It was longer than most, well-written, and no grammatical errors,\u201d one of his professors told the L.A. Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n


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