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10 Surprising Celebs with Honorary Degrees

Though celebs are often most admired for their financial success from their singing, acting, entertaining and sports careers, many of them are actually pretty talented, hard-working, and good-natured people. It’s all too easy to focus on the scandal and glamour of the celebrity lifestyle, but these colleges and universities felt it was important to recognize the talent and contributions to society from these celebrities, however interesting, weird or controversial. Here are 10 surprising celebrities with honorary degrees.


  1. Jon Bon Jovi: American rockstar Jon Bon Jovi and leader of the band Bon Jovi has won American Music Awards, a Golden Globe, a Grammy, VH1 Music Award, and other honors and awards celebrating his music and performances. But in 2001, the Livin’ On a Prayer singer was also awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Monmouth University, located in the artist’s native New Jersey.
  2. Yoko Ono: Yoko Ono, the widow of John Lennon, also enjoyed her own music and artistic career. After Lennon’s death, Ono founded the Strawberry Fields Memorial in Central Park and John Lennon Museum in Saitarma, Japan and is a well-known activist for peace and human rights. In 2001, Liverpool University awarded Ono an honorary Doctorate of Laws, and one year later, she received an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Bard College.
  3. Dolly Parton: Dolly is known as the "The Queen of Country Music" and is the only country music star to score a number one single in each of the last four decades. She became a household name across America for her music achievements, acting roles, and voluptuous figure. But it was surprising to many when The University of Tennessee decided to grant her an honorary doctorate in May of 2009 for her "role as a cultural ambassador, philanthropist, and lifelong advocate for education." Dolly can add this honor to her many other philanthropy-related awards.
  4. Kermit the Frog: Kermit the Frog is an iconic character created by puppeteer Jim Henson. Kermit was first introduced in 1955 but enjoyed a long "career" in show business on Sesame Street and other TV shows. Kermit the Frog, despite being recognized as an entertainment personality, is a fictional puppet, which makes the fact that he has an honorary degree from Southampton College in New York very confusing. The degree was awarded in 1996 and was called an honorary Doctorate of Amphibious Letters. Kermit was present to give a speech at the commencement.
  5. Stephen Colbert: Comedian and host of The Colbert Report Stephen Colbert is known for his smart, satiric commentary of current events and politics. Colbert, who studied performance at Northwestern University, has won three Emmy Awards, has a Ben & Jerry’s flavor named after him, and has an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Knox College.
  6. Tim Allen: Screwball comedian and goofy Tim the Tool Man Taylor actually attended Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI, which later awarded him an honorary degree. The real-life event was written into the fifth season of Home Improvement, in an episode called "Doctor in the House.
  7. Bob Barker: Iconic game show host of The Price is Right, Barker retired in 2007 after 35 years on the show. Barker, who was born in Washington State and grew up in South Dakota, graduated summa cum laude with an economics degree from Drury College, which is now Drury University. WWII interrupted his time in school, but Barker returned to Drury to finish his degree after saving in the Navy. In 2007, Drury awarded Barker with an honorary doctorate of humane letters.
  8. Tom Selleck: Actor, screenwriter and producer Tom Selleck, who is best known for parts in Magnum P.I. Friends and various Western movies, has three People’s Choice Awards, a Golden Globe, and an Emmy Award, as well as an honorary doctorate from Pepperdine University, which rewarded his "outstanding character and ethic."
  9. Mike Tyson: Heavyweight champion Mike Tyson is one of the most famous athletes in American history, despite a sketchy past involving prison time for sexual assault. Besides his boxing awards, Mike Tyson received an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Central State University in Ohio in 1989.
  10. George Foreman: George Foreman is a heavyweight boxing champion, was named "one of the 25 greatest fighters of all time," by Ring magazine, is an actor, Olympic gold medalist, entrepreneur and inventor of the George Foreman Grill, and minister. Foreman became a born-again Christian after a life-changing experience during a fight in 1977 and later received an honorary doctorate from the Houston Graduate School of Theology.