This Is How Far Nick Cannon Really Got In School

Nick Cannon has been working most of his life, beginning stand-up comedy at the tender age of 11, when his father, a televangelist, got him a spot on his cable program, per People. "He told me to write up something and said, 'If it's good, I'll put it on my show,'" Cannon told the outlet in 2005. "I guess he was impressed," he added. While his father's access may have helped Cannon get his foot in the door, he quickly proved he had what it takes. At just 18, Cannon found himself at Nickelodeon as a warm-up comedian, the report detailed.

While he did that, Cannon was also rapping on the side. In 1999, he helped form the group Da G4 Dope Bomb Squad, according to The Shade Room. He and the group were soon opening for the likes of Will Smith, the outlet further notes. Cannon continued to thrive in both careers, releasing his debut album in 2003 — just a year after he landed his own self-titled show on Nickelodeon, as People detailed.

That was a lot for most people, but Cannon had room in his life for other pursuits. In 2002, Cannon tried his luck in acting, landing a leading role in "Drumline," which was followed by "Love Don't Cost a Thing" in 2003. Surely there was no space in Cannon's life for formal education, but for an accomplished millionaire celebrity, Cannon got farther in school than one might expect. 

Nick Cannon didn't need a college degree to build a successful career, though the "Wild 'n Out" host values education. In August 2016, he enrolled at Howard University at the age of 35 — announcing on Twitter, "YOU KNOW!!!!! #HU2020 My First Day as a Freshman!!! Howard University Class of 2020." Cannon may be a celebrity, but he sent in an application like anyone else, a source told Page Six. "No one gets special treatment, no matter who they are," the insider said. 

Given his packed TV schedule, Cannon had to work with the school to make attending classes possible. "He is going to be on campus taking classes, obviously it's not going to be every day... But he is going to be on campus as much as possible," the source added. And he did it. In May 2020, Cannon announced on Twitter he had graduated from Howard University with a degree in Criminology/Administration of Justice and a minor in Africana Studies. 

While many people go to college in hopes of finding meaningful work afterward, Cannon had different motivations. "I'm here because I have a real thirst for knowledge," he said during a back-to-school event with Michelle Obama and Seth Meyers. Cannon also drew inspiration from a South African leader in his pursuit of higher education. In 2019, he shared a quote from Nelson Mandela, tweeting, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."

With Howard University being one of America's most prestigious Black schools, Nick Cannon's decision to enroll and get a minor in Africana Studies points to an interest that hails from adolescence. While studying at Monte Vista High School in California, Cannon was elected president of the African Student Coalition — a position he served while taking part in a myriad of other activities, like track and field, per AOL. Even back then, Cannon proved he liked to keep a busy agenda. 

Cannon started taking school and stand-up comedy seriously in a bid to escape the violence of the southeast San Diego neighborhood where he grew up. "There was a time during high school, when I actually felt like I was at a crossroads," Cannon said on VladTV in 2014 (via The Source). At one point, he sat down with his family to discuss the possibility of trying out comedy on his father's program, "[I was] like, 'Yo, a lot of my friends are getting shot, people I know who are close to me are dying,'" Cannon said. 

A year after he graduated from Howard University, Cannon promised to pay off student loans for seven students attending historically Black institutions, AP reported. Cannon himself proved he isn't done, as he is reportedly already working toward a Ph.D. to become a professor, according to NOW 100.5 FM.