From fashion designers and comedians to pro athletes and reality TV stars, discover the famous celebrities who attended college in the Grand Canyon State.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\nArizona is home to a number of top universities and\u00a0colleges, some of which boast seriously impressive alumni lists. Arizona State University and the University of Arizona, in particular, count many celebrities as alumni, from \u201cSaturday Night Live\u201d cast members and movie stars to Grammy-winning singers and NFL players.<\/p>\n
Keep reading to learn about some of the most famous celebrities who went to\u00a0college in Arizona<\/a>, whether or not they graduated, what they majored in, and more.<\/p>\n1. Kate Spade\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
Long before she was showing her playful, colorful designs at New York Fashion Week, Kate Spade was a student at Arizona State University. The late fashion designer, who transferred to ASU from the University of Kansas, graduated with a journalism degree, which helped land her a job as an accessories editor at Mademoiselle magazine. It was while working at Mademoiselle that Spade got the idea to launch her own handbag company.<\/p>\n
2. David Spade<\/b><\/h2>\n
Kate wasn\u2019t the only Spade to attend Arizona State University. Her brother-in-law, David, transferred to ASU from Scottsdale Community College. Spade, who graduated with a degree in business, landed a role on \u201cSaturday Night Live\u201d a few years after graduating and went on to star in comedies including \u201cTommy Boy\u201d and \u201cJoe Dirt.\u201d<\/p>\n
3. Kristen Wiig<\/b><\/h2>\n
Another \u201cSaturday Night Live\u201d cast member, Kristen Wiig, attended college in Arizona. Wiig studied art at the\u00a0University of Arizona<\/a>\u00a0before dropping out to pursue an acting career. She spent almost a decade on \u201cSaturday Night Live\u201d while also appearing in major films like \u201cKnocked Up\u201d and, most famously, \u201cBridesmaids.\u201d<\/p>\n4. Jimmy Kimmel\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
Comedian and late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel attended Arizona State University as a transfer student from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He didn\u2019t graduate from ASU, but during his time there, he frequently called in to a local morning show, where he ended up working after dropping out of college.<\/p>\n
5. Kourtney Kardashian<\/b><\/h2>\n
Before \u201cKeeping Up With the Kardashians\u201d made Kourtney Kardashian a household name, the reality TV star enjoyed a simpler life as a student at the University of Arizona. The transfer student from Southern Methodist University in Dallas graduated with a degree in theater arts and a minor in Spanish.<\/p>\n
6. Nicole Richie<\/b><\/h2>\n
Nicole Richie is another reality TV star who spent her college years at the University of Arizona. She spent two years at the university studying media arts before dropping out and moving to California. Shortly after the move, Richie landed a starring role alongside Paris Hilton on the reality TV show \u201cThe Simple Life,\u201d which catapulted her to fame.<\/p>\n
7. Kate Walsh<\/b><\/h2>\n
Before she was Dr. Addison Montgomery in \u201cGrey\u2019s Anatomy\u201d and, most recently, Madeline Wheeler in \u201cEmily in Paris,\u201d Kate Walsh was a student at the University of Arizona. While in school, Walsh pursued several majors, from business to English to general studies, and was involved in regional theater. She eventually dropped out to pursue acting full time.<\/p>\n
8. Linda Ronstadt<\/b><\/h2>\n
Grammy-winning singer Linda Ronstadt attended the University of Arizona but didn\u2019t graduate. However, the university later presented her with an honorary doctoral degree. Ronstadt is known for hits including \u201cBlue Bayou,\u201d \u201cYou\u2019re No Good,\u201d and \u201cWhen Will I Be Loved.\u201d<\/p>\n
9. Doug Hopkins<\/b><\/h2>\n
Late musician Doug Hopkins attended Arizona State University, and he founded alternative rock band Gin Blossoms while enrolled there. Hopkins, who was the band\u2019s lead guitarist and writer of hits such as \u201cHey Jealousy\u201d and \u201cI Found Out About You,\u201d graduated from ASU with a degree in sociology.<\/p>\n
10. David Foster Wallace<\/b><\/h2>\n
Late author David Foster Wallace received his master\u2019s degree in creative writing from the University of Arizona. Wallace is best known for his 1996 novel \u201cInfinite Jest,\u201d but he published other novels, essays, and short stories and taught English at Illinois State University and creative writing at Pomona College.<\/p>\n
11. John Hughes<\/b><\/h2>\n
Before bringing us classics like \u201cSixteen Candles,\u201d \u201cThe Breakfast Club,\u201d \u201cFerris Bueller\u2019s Day Off,\u201d and \u201cUncle Buck,\u201d John Hughes was a student at the University of Arizona. The late filmmaker and producer dropped out of the university during his junior year.<\/p>\n
12. Ted DeGrazia<\/b><\/h2>\n
Arizona native Ted DeGrazia, often referred to as \u201cthe world\u2019s most reproduced artist,\u201d studied at the University of Arizona before making it big as an artist. The late DeGrazia\u2019s work spanned many mediums and industries: He worked as a painter, sculptor, composer, architect, and jeweler, to name a few. While at the University of Arizona, DeGrazia earned degrees in art and music.<\/p>\n
13. Savannah Guthrie\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
\u201cToday\u201d show co-host Savannah Guthrie graduated from the University of Arizona with a journalism degree. The broadcast journalist is also a New York Times bestselling author and a former attorney.<\/p>\n
14. Lynda Carter<\/b><\/h2>\n
Arizona State University counts Wonder Woman as a notable alumnus. Lynda Carter, who portrayed Wonder Woman in the TV series of the same name, attended the university for two years before she dropped out to pursue a career in entertainment. Carter, who was born in Phoenix, was also a beauty pageant contestant who was crowned Miss World USA 1972.<\/p>\n
15. Phil Mickelson\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
Phil Mickelson is one of several sports stars who attended Arizona State University. The professional golfer played on ASU\u2019s golf team and set a university record with 16 collegiate wins. The psychology major was also named first-team All-American for all four years of his college career.<\/p>\n
16. Barry Bonds\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
Baseball star Barry Bonds is another famous athlete who attended Arizona State University. Bonds, who played 22 Major League Baseball seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants, graduated from ASU with a degree in criminology.<\/p>\n
17. James Harden<\/b><\/h2>\n
From baseball stars to basketball greats, a number of professional athletes have come out of Arizona State University, including James Harden. Harden, a shooting guard for the Los Angeles Clippers, played basketball for the Arizona State Sun Devils. He left ASU after being selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2009 draft, but Harden remains connected to the university. In addition to making a large NIL donation to the school\u2019s basketball program, he reportedly drops by during summer workouts and attends games when his schedule allows.<\/p>\n
18. Rob Gronkowski<\/b><\/h2>\n
Not all of Arizona\u2019s famous athletes went to Arizona State University. Former professional football tight end Rob Gronkowski attended the University of Arizona and played for the Arizona Wildcats football team. The pre-business major played for ASU during his freshman and sophomore years and missed his junior season due to an injury. He was selected by the New England Patriots in the 2010 draft.<\/p>\n
19. Nick Foles<\/b><\/h2>\n
Nick Foles is another footballer with ties to the University of Arizona. The former NFL quarterback, a Michigan State University transfer, broke University of Arizona school records for most career passing yards, yards per game, touchdowns, and completions during his time as a Wildcat. In July 2025,\u00a0the university announced<\/a>\u00a0that Foles will be inducted into its Sports Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n20. Amanda Beard<\/b><\/h2>\n
Prior to becoming a seven-time Olympic medalist, Amanda Beard competed for the University of Arizona Wildcats swimming and diving team. Beard first competed in the Olympics at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and has a total of two gold and four silver medals, as well as one bronze medal. In 2008, she was inducted into the University of Arizona Hall of Fame. Beard is also a New York Times bestselling author and the co-founder of a swimming school and an apparel and performance gear company.<\/p>\n
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<\/i><\/p>\n
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1. Kate Spade\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
Long before she was showing her playful, colorful designs at New York Fashion Week, Kate Spade was a student at Arizona State University. The late fashion designer, who transferred to ASU from the University of Kansas, graduated with a journalism degree, which helped land her a job as an accessories editor at Mademoiselle magazine. It was while working at Mademoiselle that Spade got the idea to launch her own handbag company.<\/p>\n
2. David Spade<\/b><\/h2>\n
Kate wasn\u2019t the only Spade to attend Arizona State University. Her brother-in-law, David, transferred to ASU from Scottsdale Community College. Spade, who graduated with a degree in business, landed a role on \u201cSaturday Night Live\u201d a few years after graduating and went on to star in comedies including \u201cTommy Boy\u201d and \u201cJoe Dirt.\u201d<\/p>\n
3. Kristen Wiig<\/b><\/h2>\n
Another \u201cSaturday Night Live\u201d cast member, Kristen Wiig, attended college in Arizona. Wiig studied art at the\u00a0University of Arizona<\/a>\u00a0before dropping out to pursue an acting career. She spent almost a decade on \u201cSaturday Night Live\u201d while also appearing in major films like \u201cKnocked Up\u201d and, most famously, \u201cBridesmaids.\u201d<\/p>\n Comedian and late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel attended Arizona State University as a transfer student from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He didn\u2019t graduate from ASU, but during his time there, he frequently called in to a local morning show, where he ended up working after dropping out of college.<\/p>\n Before \u201cKeeping Up With the Kardashians\u201d made Kourtney Kardashian a household name, the reality TV star enjoyed a simpler life as a student at the University of Arizona. The transfer student from Southern Methodist University in Dallas graduated with a degree in theater arts and a minor in Spanish.<\/p>\n Nicole Richie is another reality TV star who spent her college years at the University of Arizona. She spent two years at the university studying media arts before dropping out and moving to California. Shortly after the move, Richie landed a starring role alongside Paris Hilton on the reality TV show \u201cThe Simple Life,\u201d which catapulted her to fame.<\/p>\n Before she was Dr. Addison Montgomery in \u201cGrey\u2019s Anatomy\u201d and, most recently, Madeline Wheeler in \u201cEmily in Paris,\u201d Kate Walsh was a student at the University of Arizona. While in school, Walsh pursued several majors, from business to English to general studies, and was involved in regional theater. She eventually dropped out to pursue acting full time.<\/p>\n Grammy-winning singer Linda Ronstadt attended the University of Arizona but didn\u2019t graduate. However, the university later presented her with an honorary doctoral degree. Ronstadt is known for hits including \u201cBlue Bayou,\u201d \u201cYou\u2019re No Good,\u201d and \u201cWhen Will I Be Loved.\u201d<\/p>\n Late musician Doug Hopkins attended Arizona State University, and he founded alternative rock band Gin Blossoms while enrolled there. Hopkins, who was the band\u2019s lead guitarist and writer of hits such as \u201cHey Jealousy\u201d and \u201cI Found Out About You,\u201d graduated from ASU with a degree in sociology.<\/p>\n Late author David Foster Wallace received his master\u2019s degree in creative writing from the University of Arizona. Wallace is best known for his 1996 novel \u201cInfinite Jest,\u201d but he published other novels, essays, and short stories and taught English at Illinois State University and creative writing at Pomona College.<\/p>\n Before bringing us classics like \u201cSixteen Candles,\u201d \u201cThe Breakfast Club,\u201d \u201cFerris Bueller\u2019s Day Off,\u201d and \u201cUncle Buck,\u201d John Hughes was a student at the University of Arizona. The late filmmaker and producer dropped out of the university during his junior year.<\/p>\n Arizona native Ted DeGrazia, often referred to as \u201cthe world\u2019s most reproduced artist,\u201d studied at the University of Arizona before making it big as an artist. The late DeGrazia\u2019s work spanned many mediums and industries: He worked as a painter, sculptor, composer, architect, and jeweler, to name a few. While at the University of Arizona, DeGrazia earned degrees in art and music.<\/p>\n \u201cToday\u201d show co-host Savannah Guthrie graduated from the University of Arizona with a journalism degree. The broadcast journalist is also a New York Times bestselling author and a former attorney.<\/p>\n Arizona State University counts Wonder Woman as a notable alumnus. Lynda Carter, who portrayed Wonder Woman in the TV series of the same name, attended the university for two years before she dropped out to pursue a career in entertainment. Carter, who was born in Phoenix, was also a beauty pageant contestant who was crowned Miss World USA 1972.<\/p>\n Phil Mickelson is one of several sports stars who attended Arizona State University. The professional golfer played on ASU\u2019s golf team and set a university record with 16 collegiate wins. The psychology major was also named first-team All-American for all four years of his college career.<\/p>\n Baseball star Barry Bonds is another famous athlete who attended Arizona State University. Bonds, who played 22 Major League Baseball seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants, graduated from ASU with a degree in criminology.<\/p>\n From baseball stars to basketball greats, a number of professional athletes have come out of Arizona State University, including James Harden. Harden, a shooting guard for the Los Angeles Clippers, played basketball for the Arizona State Sun Devils. He left ASU after being selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2009 draft, but Harden remains connected to the university. In addition to making a large NIL donation to the school\u2019s basketball program, he reportedly drops by during summer workouts and attends games when his schedule allows.<\/p>\n Not all of Arizona\u2019s famous athletes went to Arizona State University. Former professional football tight end Rob Gronkowski attended the University of Arizona and played for the Arizona Wildcats football team. The pre-business major played for ASU during his freshman and sophomore years and missed his junior season due to an injury. He was selected by the New England Patriots in the 2010 draft.<\/p>\n Nick Foles is another footballer with ties to the University of Arizona. The former NFL quarterback, a Michigan State University transfer, broke University of Arizona school records for most career passing yards, yards per game, touchdowns, and completions during his time as a Wildcat. In July 2025,\u00a0the university announced<\/a>\u00a0that Foles will be inducted into its Sports Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n Prior to becoming a seven-time Olympic medalist, Amanda Beard competed for the University of Arizona Wildcats swimming and diving team. Beard first competed in the Olympics at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and has a total of two gold and four silver medals, as well as one bronze medal. In 2008, she was inducted into the University of Arizona Hall of Fame. Beard is also a New York Times bestselling author and the co-founder of a swimming school and an apparel and performance gear company.<\/p>\n This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<\/i><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n4. Jimmy Kimmel\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
5. Kourtney Kardashian<\/b><\/h2>\n
6. Nicole Richie<\/b><\/h2>\n
7. Kate Walsh<\/b><\/h2>\n
8. Linda Ronstadt<\/b><\/h2>\n
9. Doug Hopkins<\/b><\/h2>\n
10. David Foster Wallace<\/b><\/h2>\n
11. John Hughes<\/b><\/h2>\n
12. Ted DeGrazia<\/b><\/h2>\n
13. Savannah Guthrie\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
14. Lynda Carter<\/b><\/h2>\n
15. Phil Mickelson\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
16. Barry Bonds\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
17. James Harden<\/b><\/h2>\n
18. Rob Gronkowski<\/b><\/h2>\n
19. Nick Foles<\/b><\/h2>\n
20. Amanda Beard<\/b><\/h2>\n
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