Stars With Honorary Degrees

Credit: Courtesy of Taylor Swift/Instagram

Taylor Swift

In March 2022, New York University announced that Swift would receive an honorary doctorate of fine arts and speak at the 2022 commencement ceremony. While the singer did not attend college herself, her career and music were the subject of a course at NYU's Clive Davis Institute beginning in January 2022. "This course proposes to deconstruct both the appeal and aversions to Taylor Swift through close readings of her music and public discourse as it relates to her own growth as an artist and a celebrity. ... We’ll also consider topics like copyright and ownership, American nationalism and the ongoing impact of social media on the pop music industry," the course description reads.

The “Look What You Made Me Do” songstress showed off her graduation ensemble on Instagram in May 2022. "Wearing a cap and gown for the very first time — see you soon NYU 🥺🥰🗽,” Swift captioned her social media post ahead of the ceremony.

Credit: Paul Marotta/Getty Images for Berklee

Justin Timberlake

The "Man of the Woods" singer received an honorary doctoral degree from the Berklee School of Music in May 2019. “No Dream is too big!!! Keep chasing!!! Trust me... I’m a DOCTOR!!” Timberlake captioned an Instagram picture of himself holding up his diploma at the time. “But, for real... THANK YOU to @berkleecollege for this incredible honor—I’m very humbled and grateful.”

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Oprah Winfrey

The TV mogul received an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree during Harvard's 362nd commencement in Cambridge, Mass., on May 30, 2013. "Oprah's journey from her grandmother's Mississippi farm to becoming one of the world's most admired women is one of the great American success stories," university president Drew Faust said.

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Ben Affleck

The Argo director received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, on May 26, 2013. "Now I surpass Matt Damon!" the actor joked.

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Kerry Washington

The Scandal star gave the May 19 address at her alma matter George Washington University in Washington, D.C., on May 19, 2013. She also received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree.

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Alexander Skarsgard

True Blood's main man tipped his hat to the crowd after being given an honorary arts degree from Leeds Metropolitan University in Leeds, England in July 2011.

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Kylie Minogue

Say cheese, Kylie! In 2011, the Aussie singer proudly displayed her doctorate from Angela Ruskin University in England.

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Jack Nicholson

The As Good as it Gets actor took home an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Rhode Island's Brown University in 2011.

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Meryl Streep

Meryl's gone to Harvard! The award winning actress received her honorary degree from the Cambridge, Mass., university in 2010.

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William Shatner

Star Trek's Shatner was given an honorary degree from Montreal's McGill University in June 2011.

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Denzel Washington

Washington -- whose son Malcolm attends the University of Pennsylvania -- looked dapper when speaking at the school in May 2011.

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Aretha Franklin

Honoring the Queen of Soul! Franklin received several degrees, including Doctor of Music from the Berklee College of Music in 2006, University of Pennsylvania in 2007 and Yale in 2010.

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Orlando Bloom

Miranda Kerr's husband was lauded in 2010 by the University of Kent at Canterbury Cathedral in the U.K.

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First Lady Michelle Obama

Mrs. Obama was honored for her commitment to public service by George Washington University in 2010.

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Sir Sean Connery

James Bond's star gestured with his Napier University degree in 2009.

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Celine Dion

Dion was overcome during a 2008 ceremony at Laval University in Quebec.

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Sir Paul McCartney

The former Beatle -- who wed Nancy Shevell in 2011 -- donned a traditional black robe to accept his 2008 Doctor of Music Award from Yale University in New Haven, Conn.

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Oprah Winfrey

The talk show legend was feted by Howard University in 2007, as well as Duke University in 2009.

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Steven Tyler

Rock on! American Idol's Tyler sported a skull necklace with his robe while being awarded his first honorary degree by the Berklee College of Music in 2003.