Ariana Grande is one of the most celebrated names in modern pop culture. During her short career, she has already achieved more than most musicians could ever dream of. While most people know Grande for her hit songs such as “thank u, next”, and “7 rings”, there is more to Ariana Grande than just her catchy tunes.

For example, did you know that Grande has been featured on the list of TIME magazine’s “100 most influential people” in 2016 and 2019? She is also a known philanthropist and has supported numerous charities such as PETA and Red Cross.

While many celebrities are associated with charities for promotional purposes, Ariana Grande’s sincere dedication to good causes is unquestionable.

In May of 2017, the Manchester leg of her concert was targeted by an organized assault. Instead of letting the shock of the incident wash over her, Grande reacted proactively. She organized a benefit concert called One Love Manchester, with all the revenue from the event going to the families affected by the tragedy.

So, Ariana Grande is one of the most recognizable, influential, and admirable young artists in the world, but what is her educational background like? Did she study acting or singing in an academic setting? How about the organizational abilities that she demonstrated in organizing One Love Manchester? Did she acquire these in school, or are they just a product of her good nature and drive?

In this article, we will answer these questions as we will dive deep into the educational background of Ariana Grande.

Did Ariana Grande graduate high school?

Ariana Grande graduated from the international North Broward Preparatory School in 2012. As a student, she was already a Broadway performer and a television actor. Due to this, she had to do a lot of her high school learning remotely – an uncommon learning format at the end of the 2000s.

The fact that Ariana Grande was adamant about graduating is impressive. Acting on Broadway and national television comes with many financial opportunities, and it would have been easy for Grande to leave school and focus solely on her career. However, she kept herself disciplined and finished her education.

Here’s a photo of Ariana Grande from 2011, a year before she finished high school:

Photo by Joella Marano / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0

So, Ariana Grande finished high school despite her hectic schedule. She clearly knows the worth of education, but did she also receive a college degree after finishing high school? Let’s find out.

Did Ariana Grande go to college?

No, Ariana Grande did not attend college after getting her high school diploma. By the time of her high school graduation, Grande was already deep into recording her debut album, and she decided to forego college to go all in on her music career.

Her debut album “Yours Truly” was instantly successful, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200. It also spawned the hit singles “Right There” and “The Way”. In addition to commercial success, “Yours Truly” was also universally acclaimed by critics who praised the unique throwback sound of the album.

Has Ariana Grande referenced college in her work?

Interestingly, Grande has also indirectly referenced her lack of a college degree. The music video for the single “thank u, next” features several nodes to the legendary movie “Legally Blonde.”

For those unaware, “Legally Blonde” is about a stereotypical blonde girl who goes to Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend. Ultimately, she learns she is just as smart and capable as anyone else at Harvard.

One of the most interesting shots in the “thank u, next” music video features Grande reading law books such as “Immigration and Refugee Law and Policy” and “Search and Seizure.”

Including these two books in the music video is not a random occurrence – Grande has been outspoken on equality, police brutality, and flaws in the American immigration system in the past.

Who knows, maybe a law degree is not completely out of the question for Ariana Grande in the future. For now, however, it seems like she is completely focused on her record-breaking music career.

Photo by Emma / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0What role has Ariana Grande played in the broader education community?

While Grande does not hold a degree herself, we could easily see her being a role model for someone who does dream of a college degree. For example, Grande has been very public and loud about supporting the LGBTQ community. It is a safe bet that more than a few members of this community have decided to go after a college degree due to seeing how supportive a leading pop star has been to their rights.

The same goes for other minority groups – racism, bullying, and unfair treatment is still an issue in many academic communities. And, Grande’s public messages of love and support can create a ripple effect where more and more people decide to get a college degree to make their voices heard on these issues.

All in all, despite not having studied performing arts or music in an academic setting, Ariana Grande is objectively one of the best pop singers in the world. Her four-octave vocal range and ability to seamlessly transition between genres is something that very few recording artists can do. Grande is also a talented songwriter and has co-written many of her songs.

She is yet another example of someone who does not own a college degree, yet is one of the most influential and successful people in modern Western culture.