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Home · Lifestyle

Famous Graduates from the 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans

ESSENCE partnered with Money Magazine's list of the 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans includes colleges and universities with celebrity alumni. See which famous names graduated from the most prominent schools in the country.

By Yolanda Sangweni and Lauren Port · April 11, 2016October 27, 2020
01
Celebrity College Grads

ESSENCE partnered with Money Magazine’s list of the 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans includes colleges and universities with famous alumni. See which famous names attended the most outstanding schools in the nation.

02
Michelle Obama

First Lady Michelle Obama graduated from Princeton University, #1 on ESSENCE and Money‘s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

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03
Robert L. Johnson

BET founder Robert L. Johnson attended Princeton University, #1 on ESSENCE and Money‘s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

04
W.E.B. DuBois

DuBois graduated from Harvard University, #2 on ESSENCE and Money‘s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

05
Rashida Jones

Jones graduated from Harvard University, #2 on ESSENCE and Money‘s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

06
Tatyana Ali

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star graduated from Harvard University, #2 on ESSENCE and Money‘s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

07
Grant Hill

Hill graduated from Duke Univeristy, #3 on ESSENCE and Money‘s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

08
Mae Jemison

Jemison graduated from Cornell University, #4 on ESSENCE and Money‘s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

09
Will Packer

Packer graduated from Florida A&M University, #5 on ESSENCE and Money‘s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

10
K.Michelle

The Grammy-winning singer graduated from Florida A&M University, #5 on ESSENCE and Money‘s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

11
Keisha Knight Pulliam

The Cosby Show alum graduated from Spelman College, #6 on ESSENCE and Money‘s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

12
Alice Walker

Walker graduated from Spelman College, #6 on ESSENCE and Money‘s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

13
John Legend

Legend graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, #7 on ESSENCE and Money‘s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

14
Sanaa Lathan

Lathan graduated from Yale University, #8 on ESSENCE and Money‘s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

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15
Angela Bassett

Bassett graduated from Yale University, #8 on ESSENCE and Money‘s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

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16
Terrence J.

Terrence J. graduated from North Carolina A&T University, #9 on ESSENCE and Money‘s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

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17
Michael Ealy

Ealy graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, #10 on ESSENCE and Money‘s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

18
Mya

Mya attended the University of Maryland, College Park, #10 on ESSENCE and Money‘s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

19
Gayle King

King graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, #10 on ESSENCE and Money‘s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

20
Barack Obama

President Obama graduated from Columbia University—#11 on ESSENCE and Money‘s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans—in 1983.

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21
John Salley

Former NBA player John Salley graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology, #12 on ESSENCE and Money‘s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

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22
Malcolm D. Lee

Barbershop director Malcolm D. Lee graduated from Georgetown University, #13 on ESSENCE and Money‘s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

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23
Amerie

Singer Amerie graduated from the Georgetown University, #13 on ESSENCE and Money‘s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

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24
Toni Braxton

Braxton attended Bowie State University, #16 on ESSENCE and Money‘s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

25
Towanda Braxton

Like her sister Toni, Towanda Braxton also attended Bowie State University, #16 on ESSENCE and Money‘s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

26
Rob Brown

Blind Spot actor Rob Brown graduated from Amherst College, #19 on ESSENCE and Money’s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

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27
James Avery

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actor James Avery graduated from Virginia State University, #20 on ESSENCE and Money’s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

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28
Rick Fox

Former NBA star and actor Rick Fox graduated from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, #22 on ESSENCE and Money’s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

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29
Hill Harper

Actor and author Hill Harper graduated from Brown University, #25 on ESSENCE and Money’s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

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30
Yaya DaCosta

Actress and model Yaya DaCosta graduated from Brown University, #25 on ESSENCE and Money’s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

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31
Tracee Ellis Ross

Black-ish star Tracee Ellis Rossgraduated from Brown University, #25 on ESSENCE and Money’s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

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32
Aisha Tyler

Actress Aisha Tyler graduated from Dartmouth College, #27 on ESSENCE and Money’s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

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33
Brian J. White

Actor Brian J. White graduated from Dartmouth College, #27 on ESSENCE and Money’s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

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34
Shonda Rhimes

Shonda Rhimes graduated from Dartmouth College, #27 on ESSENCE and Money’s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

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35
Sean Patrick Thomas

Actor Sean Patrick Thomas graduated from the University of Virginia, #29 on ESSENCE and Money’s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

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36
Steph Curry

Reigning NBA MVP and champion Steph Curry went to Davidson, #27 on ESSENCE and Money’s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

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37
Medgar Evers

Civil Rights activist Medgar Evers graduated from Alcorn State University, #32 on ESSENCE and Money’s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

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38
Alex Haley

The Roots author Alex Haley graduated from Elizabeth City State University, #37 on ESSENCE and Money’s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

39
Loni Love

Comedienne and The Real graduated from Prarie View A&M University, #38 on ESSENCE and Money’s list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.

40
More Top Colleges

Learn more about the methodology behind ESSENCE and Money Magazine’s definitive list of 50 Best Colleges for African-Americans. To see more of Money’s Best Colleges rankings and tools, visit the College Planner site at money.com/colleges

Read More

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