10 Smarty Pants Celebs: Did You Know They Went To College? (J. Cole, Tyra, David Banner, & More!)

» By Deidre Dyer @culturesnobette May 24, 2012, 16:30pm

Since we know celebrities for their present fame, it’s easy to assume that they were born rapping, modeling, acting, and walking red carpets. Well, not quite. We’ve found 10 celebs who paid their dues in college. These bold and brilliant movers and shakers are graduates of Ivy League schools, and Historically Black Colleges.  They spent time hitting the books and completing their courses of study, and putting education first.

Check out 10 smarty pants celebs in the gallery below.

John Legend

Singer/songwriter John Legend graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in English, and was asked to give the commencement address for the graduating class of 2009.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

StyleBlazer Must Reads:

Stories We Like

Comments

  • Trisha_B

    Forgot about Shaq!

    • John Ram

      Almost everyone would know that considering he played in the NBA. Before Kobe started the trend, only 5 players had ever been drafted out of high school. Yes, he left early (then finished up in 2000, then got a grad degree), but still a NBA player going to college is not all surprising, at least not to any fans.

  • Tisha

    Very Nice!

  • LoveLi

    Saana looks like Lynn Whitfield in that photo

  • theNewDanger

    Be careful how you group these people. Sanaa Lathan has TWO degrees. Meanwhile, all Tyra did was the post secondary equivalent of getting a GED. Seriously, no smarts needed. You need about as much of an IQ for that cerificate as many politicians do for that Certificate for Senior Executives in State and Local Government, and you see how great a job they do
    /s

  • FelineK9

    Rappers with degrees….I LOVE IT! Give me some J Cole.

  • tiaboo

    what about Amerie???She has a BA in English with a minor in Design rom Georgetown Univ. plus reads all kinds of Science magazines – she is a smart one also!

  • Sepia830

    Would’ve added Thandie Newton to this list. She has a degree in Anthropology from Cambridge University. Than cannot have been easy.

  • James Campbell

    Should of titled this “9 Smarty Pants Black Celebs and Natalie Portman: Did You Know They Went To College?”

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Smith/100001042814916 Mike Smith

    I’m very happy to say that the only one of these people I’ve ever heard of is Natalie Portman.

  • http://www.facebook.com/zames.curran James Curran

    Actor James Franco has a Masters of Fine Arts degree from
    Columbia, and is working on a PhD in English at Yale. I think he blow the rest of these guys away in the education department.

  • WoodMaven

    You forgot two of the Smartest: Dolph Lundgren (Ivan Drago in Rocky IV), Masters degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Sidney, Australia and Mayim Bialik (Amy Farrah Fowler in The Big Bang Theory), has a P.H.D. in Neuroscience from U.C.L.A.

  • Stephanie C.

    2 Chainz graduated from Univ. of Alabama a year early.

  • Johnathan889008

    Uh, but did they graduate? No.

    • MusicB

      Can you read? No. Under the photos, it clearly lists what degree the person completed.

      • Johnathan889008

        can you read? It clearly says that celebrities like Tyra Banks did not graduate college. She received some certificate from Harvard, not a college degree. Do take the time to actually read next time.

  • louis

    Ryan Leslie graduated from Harvard c/o 1996 at age 19. Additionally, during his commencement exercises, he delivered the prestigious Harvard Oration.

  • J Cole fan

    J.Cole is also German (well, born in Germany). But nevertheless, this is one of the many reasons I love J. Cole. How many “rappers”–with some semblance a mainstream presence–can claim that they have a college degree? Respect.

  • KSuchdeve

    Common was an undergrad at FAMU?!? Wow, what a smart guy!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Captive-Audience/100002632521300 Captive Audience

    Amazing! Black celebrities going to college. I am shocked.

  • Sam

    I believe Common was an *undaground* student at Florida A&M.

  • http://www.facebook.com/iamdjtyson D.j. Tyson

    But they get you to see more ads this way…

  • Justmoi

    Look up Hill Harper. He has degrees from Brown AND Harvard.

  • Justmoi

    and Golden Brooks who has degrees from Berkeley and Sarah Lawrence

  • Misty

    If I come across an article that uses the slideshow style, I immediately leave. Such nonsense is not deserving of my time.

  • Mel3177

    This is a good look! Big ups to all my educated folk.

  • Daves

    ryan leslie got a perfect 1600 on his his SAT’s at age 14 and got accepted to Harvard in grade 10, dont know what he graduated with though.

  • McFadden, H.

    brian o’connor is a cool guy