Our Ranking of Popular Online & Distance Learning Graduates

Just like many other celebrities, Steven Spielberg was forced to drop out of university way back in 1968, to chase his dreams. His efforts did pay off, however. The famous director, scriptwriter, and screenwriter broke box-office records by producing blockbuster films, including Jaws, E.T., Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List. Through online studies, Steven Spielberg was able to acquire his BA (Film Production and Electronic Arts) degree in 2002 from California State University Long Beach.

Nicolas Cage is an actor and filmmaker born in Long Beach, California. He was raised in a Catholic family. Cage comes from a family of actors. He left secondary school early; however, this did not stop him from acquiring and focusing on his GED before following his famous family members' footsteps.

Mila Markovna Kunis was born in Ukraine (formerly part of the Soviet Union). At the age of 7, the family moved from the Soviet Union to the United States. On her second day in L.A., Kunis was enrolled at Rosewood Elementary School, not knowing a word of English. While in Los Angeles, she attended Hubert Howe Bancroft Middle School. Kunis used an on-set tutor for most of her high school years while filming That '70s Show to earn her GED.

Leonardo DiCaprio dropped out of high school after his junior year and eventually earned his GED years later. He'd already begun acting in minor roles and commercials at the time, then moving on to more iconic films. While he likes to attend college, it never actually happened, and now he's said, according to People, that "life is my college."

Eminem studied at Lincoln High School in Warren, Michigan, where he failed the 10th-grade multiple times and quit at 17 years old. Regardless of being a poor student, Eminem consistently had a profound partiality for language, reading comic books, and even the dictionary.

Deepika Padukone is one of the highest-paid actresses in the Indian film industry and was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2018 by Time magazine.

Padukone was born in Copenhagen but raised in Bangalore and began work as a model as a child. She is now synonymous with commercially successful Indian cinema. Despite being busy as an actor, model and activist Padukone is also reportedly enrolled at the Indira Gandhi National Open University studying for a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology.

Padukone’s latest film “Chhapaak,” takes on the topic of acid attacks in India. The film, the first she has produced, tells the story of Laxmi Agarwal, who was attacked in New Delhi in 2005 by a man who she had turned down a date with.

I think what you achieve in your life is the result of your own talent and hard work.

Shaquille O’Neal left LSU (Louisiana State University) his junior year to enter the NBA draft. The #1 pick of the Orlando Magic led the Magic to the NBA Finals in 1995 and was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers where he won three (3) NBA titles and he picked up another title with Miami Heat in 2006. While a Hall of Fame NBA is a major lifetime achievement in and of itself, Shaq made good on his promise to finish his undergraduate degree at LSU in 2000. In 2005, he received an MBA online at the University of Phoenix. Shaq initially earned his credentials as a backup plan for his NBA career. Throughout his learning journey, however, he realized that education and the pursuit of knowledge is the ultimate priority. In 2012, he earned his Ph.D. (Ed.D) in Human Resource Development from Barry University in Boca Raton, Florida. His doctoral thesis was in “The Duality of Humor and Aggression in Leadership Styles”. The great “Shaqademic” in another illuminating example of how to use education to improve your contributions to humanity. 

I am smart to know that even at my tender age my pursuit of education is never finished.

Beyoncé attended the high school for the Performing and Visual Arts of Houston, Texas. She continued to sharpen her musical skills before transferring to the Alief Elsik high school, the last school she attended. What happened next remains a bit foggy. Some report says that she got her diploma while in high school other sources say that she eventually got her GED. At a similar time that she's still in high school, Beyoncé and Destiny's Child started gaining popularity.

Robert Downey Jr. is an actor and producer; he was born in Manhattan, New York City. He had success in his youth, followed by a period of substance abuse and legal issues. As a child, Downey was "surrounded by drugs." His father, a drug addict, allowed Downey to use marijuana at age six, an incident which his father later said he regretted He never graduated from high school but instead earned his GED in prison.

The Prime Minister of India started his career as a tea seller in Vadnagar, India. His political ascent was the result of working his through the BJP party ranks. This epic turn around in life is partly thanks to the degrees Modi obtained through distance education. First, a Political Science degree from Delhi University in 1978, followed by a Master's degree from Gujarat University in 1983 - all completed online! Modi is the current Prime Minister of India. He will face re-election in 2024.

We should remain students for a lifetime. You should be ready and yearn to learn from every moment of life. The basic elements of life need to be associated with learning. The learning process should be a part of your DNA.