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Tyra Banks - Not many celebs choose to hit the books rather than the red carpet, but some stars didn't have to sacrifice getting their college degrees for fame. After putting her education on hold to pursue her modeling career after high school, Tyra Banks went back to school — at Harvard no less! — for a course in business management. She graduated in February 2012.(Photo: AP Photo/Courtesy of Carolyn London)

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Shaquille O'Neal - He left Louisiana State University to pursue a career in the NBA, and now that he has nothing left to prove on the court, Shaq is back in the classroom. The big man earned his bachelor’s degree and then a master’s degree and, as of this May, a doctorate in education from Miami's Barry University, and has plans to pursue a law degree. (Photo: Miami Herald/ MCT /LANDOV)

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Oprah Winfrey - A graduate of Tennesee State University with a degree in broadcast journalism, Winfrey is undoubtedly the school's most accomplished alumnus. She recieved a full scholarship to the school after winning an oratory contest. (Photo: Sara D. Davis/Getty Images)

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Denzel Washington - This A-list actor has a double degree — in drama and journalism — from Fordham University in New York to hang up next to his pair of Academy Awards.(Photo: Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)

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Queen Latifah - Before she became the queen of New York's hip hop scene, Latifah was working hard to earn a degree in broadcast journalism from Manhattan Community College. The education is serving her well now that the rap-tress has launched her own movie studio in Miami! (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

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Samuel L. Jackson - Before he became the highest-grossing actor in history (according to the Guinness Book of World Records), Jackson was just another broke student at Morehouse College in Atlanta, where he graduated in 1972. Also, the actor became an activist during the turbulent civil rights movement and was suspended for two years after he held the Morehouse Board of Trustees hostage, demanding reform at the historic school.  (Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

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Talib Kweli - For this New York rapper, education is a family affair. Talib's parents are both professors at Columbia University and he got his degree in experimental theater from NYU. (Photo: Terrence Jennings/PictureGroup)

Photo By Photo: Terrence Jennings/PictureGroup

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Forest Whitaker - This accomplished actor and director sampled a lot of different majors before finding his passion at USC's Drama Conservatory, where he graduated in 1982. Forest's paths not taken? Football at Cal Poly, liberal arts at NYU and opera at USC's Music Conservatory. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

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Joy Bryant - The Parenthood star and fashionista defies model stereotypes with her prep school education and Yale degree. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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Gabrielle Union - Dwyane Wade is a lucky man. His girl Gabrielle is the total package of beauty, charm and brains. The Think Like a Man star has a degree in sociology from UCLA. (Photo: Underwood/PictureGroup)

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Sanaa Lathan - The Love & Basketball star not only found time to juggle her acting career with a degree in English from UC Berkeley, she also got herself a Master's degree in drama from Yale. (Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

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Regina Hall - With her degree in journalism from prestigious NYU, Hall is as capable of covering the news as she is making headlines. But beauty like this would be wasted behind a computer screen. (Photo: Fernando Leon/Getty Images)

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Nicole Ari Parker - This gorgeous star wasn't content to just ride on her good looks in front of the camera, she studied her craft at NYU's famous Tisch School of the Arts, where she recieved her degree in acting. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

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LaLa Anthony - This actress, TV and radio host got her start as a communications major at Howard University, where she was a radio jockey at the campus station. (Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

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Taraji P. Henson - Long before she became the acting diva who's worked with everyone from Tyler Perry to Brad Pitt, Henson studied fine arts at Howard University. The Think Like a Man star put herself through college working as a secretary at the Pentagon and graduated in 1995. (Photo: John Ricard/BET)

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Laz Alonso - The Jumping the Broom star graduated with a degree in finance from Howard University. Between college and stardom, Laz said "show me the money" to Wall Street, where he was an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. (Photo: Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images)

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Tatyana Ali - While many of her fellow child stars went from red carpet to rehab, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air's youngest star spent her post-sitcom years working on a degree in African-American studies and government at Harvard. Uncle Phil would approve! (Photo: Leon/PictureGroup)

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John Legend - He's made millions using his voice and the tips of his fingers, but Legend's brain is nothing to laugh at. The singer and pianist graduated from University of Philadelphia with a degree in English, but was offered scholarships to Morehouse, Georgetown and even Harvard.(Photo: John Ricard/BET)

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J. Cole - This North Carolina native uprooted himself to attend college at St. John's University (he graduated Magna Cum Laude!), later revealing that he chose the New York City school so he could get closer to his idol Jay-Z. Looks like his bold move paid off! (Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

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David Banner - This hip hop star got his degree in business from Southern University, but wasn't content with just a Bachelor's. He went on to pursue an MA in Education at the University of Maryland. (Photo: John Ricard/BET)

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M.I.A. - One look at her creative album covers and indie-cool music videos shows that this British bad girl rapper has put her degree in fine art, video and film from London's Central Saint Martins College to great use. (Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)