Famous people alma mater
As fall approaches and classes start, we're taking a look at some high-profile people, from celebrities to politicians, sports players and more, and the colleges they graduated from.
Matthew McConaughey University of Texas at Austin, Austin
While attending college in a Southern town, this laid-back Texan was cast in a hit high school film that set his career in motion.
John Boehner xavier university
The Ohio native has been making headlines for the drawn-out debt ceiling debate.
Debt Ceiling debate 2011, Debt Ceiling 2011, john boehner speaker of the united states house of
Holly Robinson Peete Sarah Lawrence College
She hung out on this show for several years before she found a home on CBS, co-hosting a popular daytime talk show.
Kenny Chesney east tennessee state university
One of the most recognized entertainers in country music, this Tennessee native studied marketing in college.
James Earl Jones University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
This two-time Tony Award winner may be best known for his voice work in "The Lion King" and "Star Wars". You may be surprised where this Mississippi-born actor went to college.
Daniel Craig Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Daniel Craig, who was born in Chester, England, found American success with his critically acclaimed portrayal of a certain British spy. Perhaps his college studies helped hone his acting chops.
Brooke Shields princeton university
She was discovered at an early age as a model and later starred in such films as "Pretty Baby" and "The Blue Lagoon," before heading off to a prestigious university.
Stanley A. McChrystal United States Military Academy at West Point
The retired four-star general achieved celebrity status after a controversial interview with "60 Minutes" in which he said he'd spoken to the president only once since taking command of the war in Afghanistan.
Tommy Lee Jones Harvard University, Boston
This legendary actor did pretty well in college, being selected for the All Ivy League team in a rough sport and ending up roommates with this future vice president.
Al Pacino
This veteran actor developed his craft at a famous school under the teaching of the legendary Lee Strasberg. Pacino now serves as co-president of his alma mater.
Sarah Palin University of Idaho
Before running for vice president and governing the largest state in the Union, this famous hockey mom studied at a public university.
Tony Dungy University of Minnesota
Tony Dungy was the first African-American coach to win this championship game. Before his coaching career, Dungy played for and received a degree from a Midwestern university.
Condoleezza Rice University of Denver, Denver, University of Notre Dame, South Bend
This classically trained pianist toured the world as America's second female secretary of state.
Joe Biden university of delaware, syracuse university
At the age of 29, our nation's second in command was elected to represent "The First State" as one of the youngest senators in U.S. history.
Anderson Cooper Yale University, New Haven
In his college years this silver-haired reporter interned with a certain clandestine organization before pursuing journalism and eventually becoming one of the most respected journalists of his generation.
Denzel Washington fordham university
It was during his college years that this two-time Academy Award winner discovered a passion for acting, which he pursued in his college's productions of "The Emperor Jones" and "Othello."
Randy Jackson +southern university and a&m college
He's best known as a judge on America's top talent show, but before TV fame, Jackson played and toured with some of the best musical acts in the business.
Phil Mickelson
Long before the high-dollar endorsements came in, Mickelson earned the respect of the golf world, earning three NCAA titles while on scholarship at a Pac-12 school.
Christy Turlington Gallatin School of Individualized Study at New York University, columbia university in new york
She's more than a pretty face, and Turlington is proving it once again as she pursues her master's degree. The New York-based beauty recently made headlines when her image was banned in the U.K.

Rachel Smith belmont university
This Southern beauty was born in a Latin American country before moving with her military family back to the States. They settled in Tennessee, where she went to college and rose to the status of Miss USA.
Jon Stewart College of William and Mary
Jon Stewart developed his own brand of comedic journalism into a hit cable show. Could his study at one of America's oldest colleges have set him up for this patriotic tirade on CNN?
Bill Cosby temple university
Pudding pops aside, Bill Cosby's comedy has worked to bridge gaps among communities and families across America. A high school dropout, he worked hard to finish high school and eventually graduate from a respected school.
Regis Philbin University of Notre Dame
This daytime legend started out as a page for a nighttime legend before moving on to host his own shows.

Source: msn