Actress Tracee Ellis Ross accepts honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts during the 2023 136th Spelman College Commencement Ceremony at Georgia International Convention Center on May 21, 2023, in College Park, Ga.
While some of us have to work hard and pay off student loans for years, others go straight to work and are honored with degrees and doctorates later in life. Ahead of graduation time, check out which celebrities have received honorary college degrees from
Actress Tracee Ellis Ross accepts honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts during the 2023 136th Spelman College Commencement Ceremony at Georgia International Convention Center on May 21, 2023, in College Park, Ga.
Actress Tracee Ellis Ross accepts honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts during the 2023 136th Spelman College Commencement Ceremony at Georgia International Convention Center on May 21, 2023, in College Park, Ga.
“Game of Thrones” star Richard Madden celebrates with around 300 students on the steps of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland after receiving an honorary doctorate on July 4, 2019 in Glasgow, Scotland.
The Golden Globe-winning actor and star of the “Bodyguard” television series received the honorary degree for his contribution to drama at the summer graduation ceremony in Glasgow on July 4, 2019.
“The Office” star John Krasinski (r) and filmmaker Ken Burns(l) receive honorary degrees at Brown University on Saturday, May 25, 2019 in Providence, RI.
John Krasinski tossed his imaginary cap in the air after receiving an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, Brown University.
Five-time Grammy Award winner Missy Elliott received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music on Saturday, May 11, 2019. Dancing with her new degree on Instagram, the singer captioned the video: “Create your own lane! Sincerely, Dr. Missy Elliott!”
Ten-time Grammy Award winner Justin Timberlake also received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the Berklee College of Music on May 11, 2019. Timberlake captioned the photo: “No dream is too big! Keep chasing! Trust me…I’m a doctor!”
Missy Elliott and Justin Timberlake attend the Berklee College of Music 2019 Commencement ceremony at Agganis Arena at Boston University on May 11, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. More than 1,100 students graduated in all and receiving honorary degrees were Missy Elliott, Justin Timberlake and Alex Lacamoire.
Jessica Biel gives hubby Justin Timberlake a kiss at the annual Berklee College of Music Commencement concert on May 10, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. Missy Elliott, Alex Lacamoire, and Justin Timberlake will receive honorary doctorates at the Berklee commencement.
Actress Katie Holmes returns to her Ohio hometown to deliver the commencement address at University of Toledo. The 40-year-old movie star looked delighted as she donned a cap and gown at University of Toledo’s Glass Bowl Stadium to speak to the 2,000 undergraduate students graduating on Saturday, May 3, 2019.
During the visit, “Dawson’s Creek” star Katie Holmes was honored with an honorary degree of humane letters and spent time meeting and shaking hands with students. She didn’t attend the college herself but shared fond memories of when her older brother Martin was a student there.
Will Ferrell brought the humor as only he could when he not only received a Doctor of Humane Letters from his alma mater University of Southern California on May 12, 2017, but also spoke as the Class of 2017?s commencement speaker; the funnyman serenaded the crown with Whitney Houston?s “I Will Always Love You”. Dame Helen Mirren also attended the ceremony and received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from the school.
Another year, another honorary degree for President Barack Obama! The president was awarded with an honorary degree from Rutgers University during the school’s 250th Anniversary commencement ceremony on May 15, 2016. But it’s not the first time he’s received an honorary diploma. In 2009, he also received an honorary doctorate degree in law from the University of Notre Dame.
Nearly bringing her to tears, Oprah Winfrey holds her fourth and most prestigious honorary degree from Harvard University on May 30, 2013. Winfrey also has doctorates from Princeton, Howard University and Duke University.
Call him Dr. Yeezus! Last year, Kanye West was awarded with an honorary doctorate from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago on May 11, 2015. Quite ironic since his Grammy Award-winning album was titled “The College Dropout.”
Call her the queen of honorary degrees! Author JK Rowling has not one, not two but SEVEN honorary doctorates from different countries and universities in the past 15 years. They include the University of Exeter, St Andrews University, the University of Edinburgh, Napier University, Dartmouth College, the University of Aberdeen and Harvard University. She’s pictured here receiving her degree from the University of Edinburgh on July 8, 2004.
Being a ten-time Grammy Award-winning singer will certainly land you a few honorary degrees! John Legend waves to cameras after receiving his second honorary Doctor of Music from the University of Pennsylvania on May 19, 2014. His other degree came from Howard University in 2012 as he was honored for both his talent and humanitarian work.
Being an excellent actor will not only land you an Oscar but possibly also an honorary doctorate! Ben Affleck proudly holds up his diploma after receiving a Doctorate of Fine Arts from Brown University in 2013.
Singer Aretha Franklin can’t contain her happiness as she is presented with an honorary Doctor of Arts degree by Vice President and Secretary of Harvard University, Marc Goodheart, during the commencement ceremony on May 29, 2014. Franklin has numerous degrees and doctorates from universities like Princeton and University of Pennsylvania.
He probably gave one memorable commencement speech! In 2015, actor Morgan Freeman was presented with an honorary doctorate from Howard University for his achievements in film. He also holds an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Boston University from 2013.
Kerry Washington returned to her alma mater to not only give the commencement speech but to also be presented with an honorary doctorate from George Washington University on May 19, 2013.
Actor Robert De Niro waves to the crowd as he accepts a Doctor of Fine Arts from New York University in 1996. More than ten years later, De Niro was honored with yet another honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Bates College in 2012.
A proud moment for the Starman! Rock musician David Bowie is hooded with an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music in Boston on May 8, 1999.
Of Meryl Streep’s four honorary degrees, three have come from Ivy League schools! The actress is ecstatic as she holds up her Doctorate of Fine Arts degree from Indiana University on April 16, 2014. Streep also has doctorates from Harvard, Yale and Princeton.
Actor Denzel Washington lets out a genuine smile after receiving an honorary doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania in 2011 for his work in film and theater.
So much joy! Michelle Obama looks is disbelief as Bowie State University Provost Weldon Jackson places a doctoral hood on the first lady after she received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the school on May 17, 2013.
He truly earned the honor! While still serving as President of South Africa in 1998, Nelson Mandela was awarded with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree during a special ceremony at Harvard University.
Thumbs up for an honorary degree! Sean “Diddy” Combs became Dr. Combs in 2014 when he received a Doctorate in Humanities from Howard University. Funny enough, Diddy actually enrolled in the school back in 1990 but ended up dropping out after two years.
After earning a bachelor’s degree back in 1994 from New York University, actor Alec Baldwin returned to his alma mater to be honored with a Doctorate of Fine Arts from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts in 2010.
All smiles here! Back in 1999, actress Julie Andrews was given an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Yale University.
He was never one for smiling, not even on his graduation! Rock legend Bob Dylan gives Sir Kenneth Dover, Chancellor of the University of St Andrews major side eye as he receives his honorary degree on June 23, 2004. He was also presented one from Princeton University in 1970.
Back in his heyday, heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson was presented with an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters degree from Central State University back in 1989 for his positive effect on youth.
Before he was a judge on “American Idol,” rock legend for lead singer for the band Aerosmith, Steven Tyler, was awarded with an honorary Doctorate of Music from the Berklee College of Music in Boston in 2003.
