From comedians and actors to country music singers and athletes, discover the celebrities who attended college in North Carolina.
North Carolina is home to many colleges, from small private schools and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to large public universities. With so many excellent higher education establishments to choose from, it’s not surprising that countless celebrities and successful public figures attended college in the Tar Heel State.
Keep reading to discover which of your favorite actors, musicians, and sports stars went to college in North Carolina, which school they chose, and what they studied.
Duke University
1. Ken Jeong
Doctor-turned-actor Ken Jeong, best known for his role in “The Hangover” film series, attended two North Carolina universities. He earned his undergraduate degree from Duke University in 1990 and a Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1995.
While at Duke, Jeong considered majoring in drama but ultimately decided to pursue a zoology degree.
East Carolina University
2. Sandra Bullock
Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock attended East Carolina University in Greenville from 1982 to 1986. She majored in drama but left school just a few credits shy of graduating to pursue her acting career in New York City. (She later completed her course work and graduated.)
While in school, Bullock performed in multiple theater productions, including “Peter Pan” and “The Three Sisters.” On an episode of “Ellen’s Burning Questions,” Bullock revealed that in order to make money during college, she would “open up for drag queens in North Carolina by dancing.”
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
3. Jesse Jackson
Late civil rights activist Jesse Jackson attended the University of Illinois for one year on a football scholarship before transferring to North Carolina A&T State University, where he was a quarterback for the Aggies.
At North Carolina A&T, Jackson was also student government president and a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He graduated in 1964 with a degree in sociology.
North Carolina Central University
4. André Leon Talley
Famed fashion journalist and former Vogue editor André Leon Talley attended North Carolina Central University in the 1960s. He earned a degree in French literature and graduated in 1970.
Talley passed away in 2022 after suffering a heart attack.
Shaw University
5. Gladys Knight
Seven-time Grammy winner Gladys Knight earned her undergraduate degree from Shaw University in 1966 and was awarded an honorary doctorate from the university in 1990.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
6. Andy Griffith
Late actor Andy Griffith was born in Mount Airy, which is where he spent his childhood and attended high school before enrolling at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He graduated in 1949 with a degree in music.
Griffith was president of the UNC chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and performed in several student operettas during his time at UNC.
7. Billy Crudup
Actor Billy Crudup, known for his roles in “Almost Famous,” “Big Fish,” and “The Morning Show,” enrolled at UNC-Chapel Hill in 1986 and majored in speech communications. Crudup performed in UNC Student Television’s “General College” and was a member of the Beta chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon.
8. Billy Cunningham
Former professional basketball player and coach Billy Cunningham had an exceptional college career at UNC-Chapel Hill. Cunningham set several school records and was named ACC Player of the Year in 1965. He was the seventh overall pick in the 1965 NBA draft and spent 17 seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers.
9. Chase Rice
Country music singer and songwriter Chase Rice was born in Asheville and attended college at UNC-Chapel Hill. Rice was a linebacker for the Tar Heels.
10. James K. Polk
North Carolina native James K. Polk—11th president of the U.S.—graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with honors in 1818. Polk was the valedictorian of his class of 14 students and delivered a commencement speech in Latin.
11. Jim Rash
Charlotte-born actor Jim Rash graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1994 with a degree in radio, TV, and motion picture arts. Rash didn’t have the grades to attend UNC straight out of high school, so he spent a year at a boarding prep school in New Jersey first.
12. Lewis Black
Actor and stand-up comedian Lewis Black attended the University of Maryland for one year before transferring to UNC-Chapel Hill. At UNC, Black studied playwriting and was a member of student congress and the Pi Lambda Phi fraternity.
13. Louise Fletcher
Late actress Louise Fletcher—best known for portraying Nurse Ratched in the film “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”—graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1957. During her time at UNC, Fletcher was active in the school’s theater department.
14. Mia Hamm
Soccer icon Mia Hamm attended UNC Chapel Hill from 1989 to 1993. During her time at UNC, she helped the Tar Heels win four NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championships. Hamm was named ACC Player of the Year three times and ACC Female Athlete of the Year twice. She set school records for goals, assists, and total points before graduating with a degree in political science.
15. Michael Jordan
Former NBA star Michael Jordan—widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time—attended UNC-Chapel Hill and played three seasons with the Tar Heels before joining the Chicago Bulls in 1984.
As a freshman, Jordan was a member of the Tar Heels’ national championship team in 1982 and made the game-winning shot to beat Georgetown. Jordan was named ACC Freshman of the Year. Off the court, Jordan majored in cultural geography.
16. Rasheed Wallace
Philadelphia native Rasheed Wallace played college basketball at UNC-Chapel Hill before getting drafted by the Washington Bullets (now the Washington Wizards) as the fourth pick in the 1995 NBA draft. Wallace spent two seasons with the Tar Heels and helped lead them to the NCAA Final Four in 1995.
17. Sharon Lawrence
North Carolina native Sharon Lawrence was born in Charlotte and grew up in Raleigh. The actress, known for roles in shows such as “NYPD Blue,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” and “Rizzoli & Isles,” graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a journalism degree in 1983.
University of North Carolina Greensboro
18. Preston Blakely
Preston Blakely graduated from University of North Carolina Greensboro less than a decade ago (in 2017) but he’s already making a name for himself in politics. Born in Asheville, Blakely was elected mayor of Fletcher in 2021 at the age of 27, making him North Carolina’s youngest mayor.
At UNC-Greensboro, Blakely double majored in African American and African diaspora studies and political science. He later earned a master of public affairs degree from Western Carolina University.
Wake Forest University
19. Chris Paul
Chris Paul—who played 21 seasons in the NBA before announcing his retirement in February 2026—played basketball for two seasons at Wake Forest University from 2003 to 2005.
While playing for the Demon Deacons, Paul was named ACC Rookie of the Year and an Academic All-American with a 3.21 GPA.
While Paul left Wake Forest early to pursue his career as a professional basketball player, he returned to school in 2020, this time attending Winston-Salem State University, and earned his degree in mass communications in 2022.
Winston-Salem State University
20. Stephen Smith
TV personality and sports analyst Stephen Smith began his college career at New York City’s Fashion Institute of Technology but later transferred to Winston-Salem University after receiving a basketball scholarship. His basketball career was short-lived, however, due to a severe knee injury that left him unable to play.
Smith earned a degree in mass communications and graduated in 1991.
