It’s grad season, and with that, some familiar names and faces are officially entering their post-grad era. From celebrity kids raised away from the spotlight to stars balancing fame with finals, the Class of 2026 is full of famous graduates making their own mark beyond their family names.
Despite their famous connections, these graduates experienced so many realities of college life that everyone else did: late night study sessions, stressful assignments, new friendships, student orgs, and figuring out who they are as they enter adulthood. Some pursued the arts or business; others gravitated toward psychology or law, with many of them also balancing internships, creative careers, and public attention alongside their education. Some went to HBCUs and private universities; others opted for art schools or large public institutions. But while every journey looked different, they all reached the same milestone: crossing the graduation stage as part of the Class of 2026.
For many of these famous grads, college graduation season marks a different kind of accomplishment than they may be used to — one that feels personal, independent, and earned on their own terms. Now, they’re entering the post-grad world, stepping into careers, creative industries, graduate programs, Hollywood, or whatever comes next.
From Apple Martin to Zahara Jolie, here are the celebs and celeb kids graduating with the Class of 2026.
Zahara Jolie — Spelman College
Zahara Jolie, daughter of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, graduated from Spelman College, the prestigious HBCU in Atlanta, with a degree in psychology. During her time at Spelman, Zahara became known for embracing her own identity, even introducing herself publicly and crossing the stage as “Zahara Marley Jolie,” notably dropping Pitt from her last name.
Noah Schnapp — University of Pennsylvania
Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in entrepreneurship and innovation. As if balancing an Ivy League education while filming one of Netflix’s biggest shows is impressive enough — graduating just months after the highly anticipated end of said show makes the accomplishment even bigger!
Apple Martin — Vanderbilt University
Apple Martin, daughter of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin, graduated from Vanderbilt University with a major in law, history, and society. In an interview with Interview magazine, she said her interest in the major was inspired by both her love of true crime and Legally Blonde’s iconic Elle Woods. Although law school may have once been the plan, Apple is already stepping into the entertainment world after reportedly landing a role in an upcoming Nancy Meyers film.
Grace Burns — New York University Gallatin School
Grace Burns, daughter of model Christy Turlington and actor Ed Burns, graduated from New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. The Gallatin program is known for allowing students to design interdisciplinary academic paths tailored to their interests, attracting many creatives.
Deacon Phillippe — NYU Tisch School of the Arts
Deacon Phillippe, son of Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe, graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Deacon was one of several celebrity children graduating from NYU this year, making the ceremony feel almost like a “Hollywood Goes East” meetup. Adding to the full-circle moment, actress Laura Dern, a close friend of Witherspoon, served as a graduation speaker for Tisch graduates.
Zahra Rock — University of Southern California
Zahra Rock, daughter of comedian Chris Rock, graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in narrative studies, a program that focuses on storytelling across media and culture, making it a fitting choice for someone raised around entertainment and comedy.
Ryder Robinson — NYU Tisch School of the Arts
Ryder Robinson, son of Kate Hudson and Chris Robinson, also graduated from NYU Tisch. While appearing on The Tonight Show, Hudson joked that Ryder may be the first person in their family history to actually graduate college.
Stella Chesnut — New York University
Stella Chesnut, daughter of actress and comedian Molly Shannon and artist Fritz Chesnut, graduated from New York University this spring. While her major has not been publicly revealed, Stella joins the growing list of celebrity kids completing degrees at NYU this year.
Nick and Max Dubrow — Loyola Marymount University & Tufts University
Twins Nick and Max Dubrow, sons of Real Housewives of Orange County star Heather Dubrow and plastic surgeon Terry Dubrow, both celebrated major academic milestones this year. Nick graduated from Loyola Marymount University, while Max graduated from Tufts University.