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.

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.

Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. aka Lil Wayne is a rapper, actor, producer, and fashion designer. The talented all-rounder has twelve studio albums with another expected to drop this year. The father of four old told hosts of the talk show, The View, in 2009 that he had enrolled at the University of Phoenix and was taking online courses in Psychology. Lil Wayne has reportedly just got engaged and is busy promoting his 13th studio album rumored to be called Funeral.

The more time you spend contemplating what you should have done... you lose valuable time planning what you can and will do.

James Franco has had an amazing education for a freshman dropout. The famous, actor-writer-director is so passionate about online learning that he’s now interested in teaching an online course. Currently a Professor at UCLA teaching graduate filmmaking and screenwriting classes.

I teach at UCLA and USC and Cal Arts (universities) but I’m gonna do an online filmmaking class… UCLA and USC are two of the best film schools in the world and it’s hard to get in, it’s expensive, so I like the idea of also teaching people that can’t afford that or can’t get in.

Jessica Alba began acting at age 5 and has gone on to star in numerous box office hits including Fantastic Four (2005), Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), Good Luck Chuck (2007), Valentine's Day (2010), Little Fockers (2010), and Mechanic: Resurrection (2016). Beginning work from a young age meant Alba couldn’t attend a regular school and so completed her basic education through the American School of Correspondence. The actor and businesswoman is now worth a neat $30 million USD.

Success takes communication, collaboration, and sometimes failure.

Songwriter, entrepreneur, producer, model, and actress who starred in Lizzie McGuire Cheaper by the Dozen Most Wanted A Cinderella Story Hilary’s success was influenced by her work as an actor and by her education. Hilary enrolled in online courses in 2005 at Harvard University’s Extension School. (Pre Coursera and EdX). She chronicled her online education experience in her personal blog and has overwhelmingly positive feedback about her online education experience.

I’m taking online classes at Harvard University. Really cool! I am really excited about going back to school and the on-line classes are really cool!

Shannen Doherty’s acting career started when she was just 11 years old as Jenny Wilder in Little House on the Prairie. Her career took off from there and she went on to play iconic characters in cult TV shows like 90210 and Charmed. Being constantly on set didn’t stop Doherty from pursuing higher education with the talented actor reportedly taking online classes towards a Liberal Arts degree from the University of Phoenix. Doherty is an outspoken animal rights activist and uses her time to raise awareness for the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

Earning my degree online lets me study anywhere anytime, it’s like the world is slowing down so I can make better use of my day.

By the age of 20, Jerry Hall had appeared on more than 40 magazine covers across the world including Italian Vogue and Cosmopolitan. Her distinct look made her a household name which only increased when the model and actor married Mick Jagger in 1990. Hall began studying a BA in Humanities through Open University at the age of 45 in an effort to inspire her four children to do the same. Hall now splits her time promoting charities like the Elton John AIDS Foundation and caring for her 88-year-old husband, media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

I decided to study for a degree because I thought it would inspire my children to go to university and set a good example.

Marcia Cross entered her acting career with small parts in daytime TV before shooting to fame playing Dr. Kimberly Shaw on Melrose Place. The stunning redhead is most famous for playing the uptight housewife Bree Van de Kamp on the long-running series Desperate Housewives. Thanks to online learning, Cross managed to graduate with a Masters in Psychology from Antioch University in Los Angeles in 2003 while still working. Cross recently revealed she is in remission from anal cancer.

I have always wanted to know what's going on under the surface.

The 2015 Miss Universe winner began modeling at the age of 9 and has been working ever since. Born in Germany to a German father and Filipino mother the actor, model and stylist represented The Philippines at the global event, telling audiences that if she won, she would do her best to raise awareness around the issue of HIV. Wurtzbach has been the host of a popular variety show since 2016. Even though her early years were spent working Wurtzbach caught up on her education by completing her secondary education at ABS-CBN Distance Learning Center.

You can’t let go. You have to really believe that you can and you will and it’s not gonna be easy at all. It might take a while. You have to keep working hard.