Our Ranking of Popular Online & Distance Learning Graduates

The Prime Minister of India started his career as a tea seller in Vadnagar, India. His political ascent was the result of working his through the BJP party ranks. This epic turn around in life is partly thanks to the degrees Modi obtained through distance education. First, a Political Science degree from Delhi University in 1978, followed by a Master's degree from Gujarat University in 1983 - all completed online! Modi is the current Prime Minister of India. He will face re-election in 2024.

We should remain students for a lifetime. You should be ready and yearn to learn from every moment of life. The basic elements of life need to be associated with learning. The learning process should be a part of your DNA.

Shaquille O’Neal left LSU (Louisiana State University) his junior year to enter the NBA draft. The #1 pick of the Orlando Magic led the Magic to the NBA Finals in 1995 and was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers where he won three (3) NBA titles and he picked up another title with Miami Heat in 2006. While a Hall of Fame NBA is a major lifetime achievement in and of itself, Shaq made good on his promise to finish his undergraduate degree at LSU in 2000. In 2005, he received an MBA online at the University of Phoenix. Shaq initially earned his credentials as a backup plan for his NBA career. Throughout his learning journey, however, he realized that education and the pursuit of knowledge is the ultimate priority. In 2012, he earned his Ph.D. (Ed.D) in Human Resource Development from Barry University in Boca Raton, Florida. His doctoral thesis was in “The Duality of Humor and Aggression in Leadership Styles”. The great “Shaqademic” in another illuminating example of how to use education to improve your contributions to humanity. 

I am smart to know that even at my tender age my pursuit of education is never finished.

Nelson Mandela was the first democratically elected president in South Africa, a position he fought long and hard for as an anti-apartheid activist, political leader, and community builder. He was jailed in 1962 and incarcerated for 27 years before being released in 1990 by President F. W. de Klerk. Mandela didn’t let his time in prison hold him back; he continued to fight and raise international awareness of the political conditions in South Africa. Towards the end of his sentence, Mandela even managed to complete a Bachelor’s in Law from the University of London’s External Degree Program, graduating in 1989. Mandela died on 5 December 2013. He continues to be a symbol of peace and racial equality around the world.

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

Jessica Alba began acting at age 5 and has gone on to star in numerous box office hits including Fantastic Four (2005), Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), Good Luck Chuck (2007), Valentine's Day (2010), Little Fockers (2010), and Mechanic: Resurrection (2016). Beginning work from a young age meant Alba couldn’t attend a regular school and so completed her basic education through the American School of Correspondence. The actor and businesswoman is now worth a neat $30 million USD.

Success takes communication, collaboration, and sometimes failure.

He quit high school at the age of 16. His reason: The comedic actor wasn't solely a class clown but also a straight-A student. However, times were hard for the young Canadian, where he had to leave school and seek employment to support his family. He worked as a security officer and custodian before deciding to undertake his hand at comedy.

James Franco has had an amazing education for a freshman dropout. The famous, actor-writer-director is so passionate about online learning that he’s now interested in teaching an online course. Currently a Professor at UCLA teaching graduate filmmaking and screenwriting classes.

I teach at UCLA and USC and Cal Arts (universities) but I’m gonna do an online filmmaking class… UCLA and USC are two of the best film schools in the world and it’s hard to get in, it’s expensive, so I like the idea of also teaching people that can’t afford that or can’t get in.

Seven (7) Grand Slam singles titles, 14 women’s doubles titles, and four (4) Olympic Gold medals. If that was not enough, Venus enrolled and completed her Bachelors of Science Degree in business administration from the University of Indiana East. This online program was designed in collaboration with the Women’s Tennis Association that enabled athletes to compete professionally and complete their studies. Venus understands that knowledge is critical to her success and immediately launched a successful interior design company, V Starr Interiors and her own fashion line, EleVen in collaboration with Steve & Barry’s. “One of the main reasons that I chose IU East was because I felt so at home. It was like family, like it was my school, and I was so excited. It’s been an incredible journey,” Williams said.

I’ve learned so much. It was always my dream to have a business degree and I ended up going to art school so many times, but in the back of my head, I felt like I needed the tools to be a better leader, to be a better planner, to be better at all of the things I wanted to do in my businesses because I’m so hands-on.

Just like many other celebrities, Steven Spielberg was forced to drop out of university way back in 1968, to chase his dreams. His efforts did pay off, however. The famous director, scriptwriter, and screenwriter broke box-office records by producing blockbuster films, including Jaws, E.T., Jurassic Park Schindler’s List. Through online studies, Steven Spielberg was able to acquire his BA (Film Production and Electronic Arts) degree in 2002 from California State University Long Beach.

Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. aka Lil Wayne is a rapper, actor, producer, and fashion designer. The talented all-rounder has twelve studio albums with another expected to drop this year. The father of four old told hosts of the talk show, The View, in 2009 that he had enrolled at the University of Phoenix and was taking online courses in Psychology. Lil Wayne has reportedly just got engaged and is busy promoting his 13th studio album rumored to be called Funeral.

The more time you spend contemplating what you should have done... you lose valuable time planning what you can and will do.

Simone Biles is the United States most successful gymnast winning a total of 30 Olympic and World Championship medals. She is currently the world's third most decorated gymnast, behind Belarus' Vitaly Scherbo (33 medals) and Russia's Larisa Latynina (32 medals). Biles is likely to top the charts after a spectacular 2019 season puts her in good stead for 2020. In 2018 Biles announced she had enrolled in an online business administration degree at the University of the People and would also work as a brand ambassador for the institution.

To go out there and prove what I can do has taught me a lot about who I am.