Where your favorite Netflix stars went to college

Whether you loved or hated college, everyone who attended certainly has endless memories of their time there. Enrolling in higher education means you’re following a dream to study a subject you’re passionate about, or perhaps you’re in need of a passion and want some help figuring out what you should do for the rest of your life.

While many celebrities opt to skip out on college, finding different ways to make a fortune without having to spend money on more schooling, others have graduated from prestigious universities with impressive degrees. A handful of Netflix stars have gone to college, and we’re here to reveal where some of the most popular actors spent their days in the classroom.

Here are 10 Netflix stars and where they went to college.

Where did David Harbour go to college?

David Harbour, who plays the lovable and gruff Jim Hopper on Stranger Things, attended an Ivy League school back in the ’90s! The 46-year-old actor from New York graduated from Dartmouth College in 1997. The famous university calls Hanover, New Hampshire its home.

Where did Laura Linney go to college?

Laura Linney doesn’t just play an incredibly smart woman on TV as Wendy Byrde in Ozark. In real life, the 57-year-old actress graduated from Brown University back in 1986. Another Ivy League school, Brown is located in Providence, Rhode Island. How impressive!

Where did Emmy Raver-Lampman go to college?

The Umbrella Academy star Emmy Raver-Lampman kicks butt on TV as Allison Hargreeves, and in real life, she’s seemingly just as awesome. The actress, now 32 years old, graduated from Marymount Manhattan College in 2012. Marymount is a liberal arts college located in New York City.

Where did Linda Cardellini go to college?

You might know Emmy nominee Linda Cardellini for her more recent role as Judy Hale on Netflix’s Dead to Me, but this seasoned actress has taken on a handful of memorable parts, such as Velma in Scooby-Doo, Lindsay Weir in Freaks and Geeks, and Sylvia Rosen in Mad Men. Cardellini, 46, graduated from Loyola Marymount University in 1997. The Catholic college is located in Los Angeles, California.

Where did Lauren German go to college?

Known best to Lucifans as Chloe Decker in Lucifer, Lauren German graduated from the University of Southern California in 1999. It’s a private college located in, you guessed it: Los Angeles, California. German is also known for her roles in crime shows Chicago Fire and Hawaii Five-0, along with horror movies Hostel: Part II and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Where did Cillian Murphy go to college?

Cillian Murphy is the only Netflix actor on this list who didn’t actually graduate from college, but he did attend for a short amount of time. Why include the Peaky Blinders star, then? Well, his schooling story is pretty interesting.

As reported by Irish Central, the now-45-year-old actor enrolled in the University College Cork in Ireland to study law, only to drop out in his second year. He realized pretty quickly that he did not want to pursue a career in law, and decided to become an actor instead. We’re very glad that he did!

Where did Ellie Kemper go to college?

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt star Ellie Kemper is another Netflix actor on this list who attended an Ivy League school. The star, now 41 years old, graduated from Princeton University in 2002. The Emmy nominee is, of course, also known for her role of Erin Hannon on The Office, as well as Becca in the movie Bridesmaids. This awesome actress is equal parts hilarious and smart!

Where did Mike Colter go to college?

Mike Colter is best known for his titular role in Marvel’s Luke Cage, also appearing in Jessica Jones and The Defenders. You can also catch the 44-year-old actor in the CBS show Evil, which is currently streaming its first season on Netflix. Colter graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1999, and then went on to obtain an MFA from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Where did Gillian Jacobs go to college?

While you might know her best from her role of Britta Perry in Community, Gillian Jacobs also starred in Love on Netflix from 2016 to 2018. The 38-year-old actress graduated from the Juilliard School in 2004. The performing arts conservatory is located in New York City and is known for its famous alumni and prestige.

Where did Chase Stokes go to college?

Netflix heartthrob Chase Stokes is best known for playing John B on Outer Banks. The 28-year-old actor originally from Maryland also made an appearance in Stranger Things season 1, and has a role alongside Lily Rabe and Amy Brenneman in Tell Me Your Secrets on Amazon Prime Video. The up-and-coming actor received his MBA from the University of Central Florida in 2015.

Where did Mindy Kaling go to college?

Although actress and author Mindy Kaling isn’t technically a Netflix star, the Emmy-nominated writer and co-star of The Office co-created one of the most popular Netflix original comedy series, Never Have I Ever.

Before starring in The Mindy Project and creating the hit Netflix coming-of-age series, Kaling received a Bachelor’s Degree in playwriting from Dartmouth College in 2001. The overachiever was also part of the school’s improv comedy troupe, the acapella group and the school paper and humor magazine.

Where did John David Washington go to college?

John David Washington became a breakout Netflix star in 2021 when he starred alongside Zendaya in the drama film Malcolm & Marie and headlined the summer action thriller Beckett. Washington also starred in the 2018 Netflix film Monster. Before landing a Golden Globe nomination for BlacKkKlansman, Washington graduated from Morehouse College in 2006, where he played football ahead of a brief professional career for the St. Louis Rams.

Where did Adrian Grenier go to college?

Adrian Grenier has been a big and small screen star since breaking out in the ‘90s. He starred in HBO’s series Entourage and the modern classic romantic comedy The Devil Wears Prada. Grenier can now be seen in the Netflix limited series Clickbait. The 45-year-old actor attended Bard College in New York City.

Where did Sandra Oh go to college?

Before breaking out in Grey’s Anatomy as Cristina Yang, Sandra Oh stole scenes in movies like The Princess Diaries, Under the Tuscan Sun and Sideways. Now, she’s the Emmy-nominated star of Killing Eve and the star of Netflix’s miniseries The Chair. The 50-year-old Canada native opted out of a four-year scholarship to study journalism at Carleton University in favor of studying drama at the National Theatre School of Canada.

Where did Brianne Howey go to college?

Brianne Howey stars in the Netflix original comedy-drama series Ginny & Georgia as a single mother, Georgia. The series became one of the biggest breakout successes for the streamer in 2021. Prior to becoming a successful actress, Howey honed her craft at New York University Tisch School of the Arts.

Where did Lily Collins go to college?

Emily in Paris star Lily Collins might have a famous father in musician Phil Collins, but she worked her way toward a career in acting. Collins made her screen debut in 2009, and she’s now got quite the résumé of Netflix films under her belt: To the Bone, Okja, Mank and Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.

Of course, she’s now the lead of the Emmy-nominated Netflix original comedy series Emily in Paris, but she first studied broadcast journalism at the University of Southern California after graduating from Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles.

Are you surprised by any of these Netflix stars’ alma maters?