Where Celebrity Parents Sent Their Kids to College

Having your kid go off to college is a time full of heightened emotions. You’re oh-so proud of your child for getting to this momentous occasion, but you can’t help but bawl over the fact that they’re becoming a grown-up, and are now out of the house. So many parents understand this overwhelming time, including celebrity parents!

Last year, many celebrity parents were seen dropping off their kids at college, from Katie Holmes dropping off her daughter Suri Cruise at Carnegie Mellon University to Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow taking their son Moses Martin to Brown University. Many more are preparing to help their kids move out this fall, including Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade and Heidi Klum and Seal. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Back-to-school season can be a stressful time, especially for parents with college-bound kiddos, but these celeb parents are sharing so many details!

As another swarm of celebrity kids are off to college, let’s take a look at where they’re going, what they’re studying, and more! Not only that, but let’s also see what other celebrity kids majored in college, from Larry David’s daughter to Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas’s children.

Below, check out where your favorite celebrity parents have taken their kids to college.

A version of this article was originally published in Aug. 2024.

Donald Trump’s Granddaughter Kai Trump: University of Miami

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Donald Trump’s granddaughter Kai Trump will attend the University of Miami’s class of 2029. The daughter of Donald Trump Jr. and Vanessa Trump announced in Aug. 2024 that she will be on the golf team. “I am beyond excited to announce my verbal commitment to the University of Miami,” she wrote on Instagram. “I would like to thank my mom, Vanessa, and my dad, Don, for always supporting me through my journey. I would also like to thank my great team for getting me to this point. I would like to thank my Grandpa for giving me access to great courses and tremendous support. … I am supper excited to be a cane and represent the University of Miami. Gooo Canes! 🧡💚 “
Chip & Joanna Gaines’ Daughter Ella

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Chip & Joanna Gaines’ daughter Ella graduated from high school in June 2025, and unlike her older brother Drake, who attends college at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor close to home, Ella is moving out.

“We can’t wait for her to decide [on a college,” Chip said in an interview with TODAY. “Ella has thought about Korea, she’s thought about sunny Southern California. She’s not going to be in the Central Texas area when she goes on to her next chapter. She seems excited to be able to spread her wings and do something very unique and outside the bubble.”

The Magnolia co-founder added, “With Drake, we needed to send him to college to teach him basic survival skills, like how to do laundry. Ella is on the exact opposite end of the spectrum. It feels like we’re sending this young lady off to become the next president of the United States. It’s very the sky’s the limit with Ella.”
Tiger Woods’ Daughter Sam: Stanford University

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Tiger Woods’ daughter Sam, who he shares with model Elin Mordegren, is joining the class of 2029 at Stanford University, where her father graduated. According to The Palm Beach Post, Sam is going to focus on academics and pursue a degree in psychology or biology.
Dwyane Wade & Gabrielle Union’s Daughter Zaya Wade

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Although Gabrielle Union’s stepdaughter Zaya Wade hasn’t publicly announced where she is going to college, she has shared that she is looking into somewhere that is safe for the trans community she is part of.

Zaya previously told Seventeen, “It would be a little too idealistic to say I’m going to be safe anywhere I go [to college]. Even if I’m in a blue state or blue city or blue county, it’s not to say that it will be free of Black and queer discrimination. But I’m obviously factoring in the safer choices.”

“I really want to put myself in spaces where I know I can find my community and my community can find me, and we can work together to keep the queer community across the country strong,” she continued.

And her parents are proud of her. Union told PEOPLE that she is “scared but excited for her.” Union added, “[She’s] an astrobiology major. So we can’t help with that. We haven’t been able to help with homework since the fourth grade, but we’re excited for next year.”
Heidi Klum & Seal’s Son Johan

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Heidi Klum and Seal’s son Johan graduated from college in June 2025. Although they haven’t confirmed where he is going to college yet, the supermodel did reveal in Nov. 2024 that her son had been touring schools in New York City.

“Today, we actually toured Parsons [School of Design] for my second son, Johan,” Klum told PEOPLE. “Johan is very much into the arts and making clothes. So today we toured Parsons.”
Katie Holmes & Tom Cruise’s Daughter Suri Cruise: Carnegie Mellon University

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Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise’s daughter Suri Cruise is all grown up and is part of the 2028 graduating class at Carnegie Mellon University!

For a recent Town & Country cover story, Holmes revealed how she feels about Suri moving off to college.

“I’m proud of my daughter. Of course, I will miss the close proximity, but I’m really proud of her and I’m happy,” she said. “I remember being this age, this time of beginnings. It’s exciting to learn about yourself, and I loved that time, so it makes me happy to think about it like that.”
Ben Affleck & Jennifer Garner’s Daughter Violet Affleck: Yale University

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Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner’s daughter Violet Affleck began attending Yale University in the fall of 2024.

Garner previously posted a series of crying photos of her daughter’s graduating high school, saying on Instagram, “Tell me you have a graduate without telling me you have a graduate. 🎓 (bless our hearts 🥺♥️🤣).”
Chris Martin & Gwyneth Paltrow’s Son Moses Martin: Brown University

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Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow’s son Moses Martin is going to the Ivies! He started at Brown University in fall 2024. Ahead of her youngest leaving, Paltrow said to Hollywood Reporter that the idea of Moses going to college is “kind of giving me a nervous breakdown … my identify has been being a mother.”
Larsa Pippen & Scottie Pippen’s Son Justin Pippen: University Of Michigan

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Larsa Pippen and Scottie Pippen’s son Justin Pippen is going to the University Of Michigan to play basketball!
Sean “Diddy” Combs & Sarah Chapman’s Daughter Chance Combs: NYU

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Chance Combs, daughter of Sean “Diddy” Combs and Sarah Chapman, is going down a similar path to many fellow celebrity kids: going to NYU. In the fall 2024, she went to the school’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Donald Trump & Melania Trump’s Son Barron: NYU

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Donald Trump and Melania Trump’s son Barron finished his first year at New York University’s Stern School of Business in spring 2025.
Teresa Giudice & Joe Giudice Daughter Milania Giudice: University of Tampa

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Teresa Giudice and Joe Giudice’s daughter, Milania Giudice, started attending the University of Tampa in 2024. Milania announced the news back in May 2024.

“Honestly, I have grown so much to hate the cold. I’m so over the cold weather… I knew I want warm weather, because I’m so over the cold. I just want[ed] to be close to a beach,” she said to the co-host of Namaste B$tches via BravoTV. “Then I really thought about it, like, ‘Wait a minute. Florida is 30 minutes away from my dad on a plane. That’s so amazing.’ So, whenever I have a few days off from class or something, I’ll go see my dad. It’s go[ing to] be so great.”
Jessica Seinfeld & Jerry Seinfeld’s Son Shepherd Seinfeld: Duke University

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Jessica Seinfeld and Jerry Seinfeld’s son Shepherd Seinfeld is going to Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, just like his older siblings! It’s unclear what he is majoring in, but his older brother Julian studied Sociology and his older sister Sascha seemingly studied writing.
Guy Fieri & Lori Brisson’s Son Ryder Fieri: San Diego State University

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Guy Fieri and Lori Brisson’s son Ryder Fieri is part of the class of 2028 at San Diego State University. Per People, this was actually his number-one choice for college!
Poorna Jagannathan & Azad Oommen’s Son Anav Oommen

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Poorna Jagannathan and Azad Oommen’s son Anav Oommen went to college in 2024! It’s unclear where he’s going, but we’re cheering him on!

She posted about it in a series of Instagram photos, referencing SheKnows’ Back-to-School 2023 issue, saying, “Shot this “Back To School” cover a while back for @sheknows …I give some parenting advice: … let them fly, blah blah blah. Don’t listen to any of it. A week away from dropping my kid off to college, I’m telling him that higher education is over rated and living with your parents forever is an Ek Dum number 1 idea. Good luck to all those in the same boat. This s–t’s hard.”
Laura Dern & Ben Harper’s Daughter Jaya Harper: NYU

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Laura Dern and Ben Harper’s daughter Jaya Harper joined the class of 2027 at NYU.

“I’m so proud of you and your incredible heart and voice,” her mom said in an Instagram tribute announcing the news back in 2023. “I’m in awe of you.”
Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt’s Daughter Zahara Jolie: Spelman College

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Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s daughter Zahara Jolie started attending Spelman College back in 2022, and in 2023, she joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt’s Son Maddox Jolie: Yonsei University

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Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s eldest son, Maddox Jolie, attended Yonsei University from 2019 to 2024. At the college in South Korea, he majored in Biochemistry, Russian, and Korean, per the Sun! Talk about impressive.
Kobe Bryant & Vanessa Bryant’s Daughter Natalia Bryant: USC

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Kobe Bryant and Vanessa Bryant’s daughter Natalia Bryant started the University of Southern California back in 2021 to study film, per The List.
Carrie Fisher & Bryan Lourd’s Daughter Billie Lourd: NYU

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Carrie Fisher and Bryan Lourd’s daughter Billie Lourd attended NYU from 2010 to 2014, earning a self-designed degree in “Art and Business as Religion” from the Gallatin School of Individualized Study.
Jamie Foxx & Connie Kline’s Daughter Corrine Foxx: USC

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Jamie Foxx and his ex-girlfriend Connie Kline’s daughter Corrine Foxx graduated from the University of Southern California back in 2016 with a degree in public relations. Per W, she was a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority.
Larry David & Laurie David’s Daughter Cazzie David: Emerson College

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Another celebrity kid who graduated college in 2016 was Larry David and Laurie David’s daughter Cazzie David, who earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in writing for film and television from Emerson College.
Reese Witherspoon & Ryan Phillippe’s Son Deacon Phillippe: NYU

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As for Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe’s son, Deacon Phillippe, he’s attending New York University. He’s studying music there and released his first album while in attendance.
Reese Witherspoon & Ryan Phillippe’s Daughter Ava Phillippe

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Reese Witherspoon & Ryan Phillippe’s daughter Ava Phillippe chose to attend the University of California, Berkeley, back in 2018. It’s unclear what she majored in, but we know her family is so proud.
Catherine Zeta-Jones & Michael Douglas’ Daughter Carys Michael Douglas: Brown University

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Along with her brother, Dylan, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas’ daughter, Carys Michael Douglas went to Brown University. She’s part of the class of 2025 and is currently studying both international relations and film. She’s done numerous internships with Rolling Stone and Ark Media.
Catherine Zeta-Jones & Michael Douglas’ Son Dylan Michael Douglas: Brown University

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Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas’ son Dylan Michael Douglas went to Brown University to study political science. In an interview with Parade, his mom said, “He’s doing internships and working on political PACs.”