Where Did Demi Lovato Go To College?
Demi Lovato is an American singer, songwriter, and actress who rose to fame as a child star on the Disney Channel. Lovato has become one of the biggest pop stars in the world, with multiple hit albums and singles.
She is admired by fans for her powerful vocals and openness about her struggles with bipolar disorder, addiction, and recovery. Though Lovato found success at a young age, she continued her education in between filming TV shows and going on tour. So where did Demi Lovato go to college?
Educational Background
Demi Lovato was homeschooled for most of her childhood. This allowed her to focus on her budding acting and music career while still meeting educational standards. She took some courses at a private Christian school in Texas prior to being homeschooled.
Lovato attended public school briefly in 6th and 7th grade but left due to bullying. She said, “I was bullied so badly my mom didn’t want me going to school dances. She didn’t want me to deal with all the drama. So she sent me home-schooled.”
This gave Lovato flexibility but also a solitary educational experience as a child star. As Lovato got older, she wanted more of a traditional college experience.
High School Education
In April 2009 at age 16, Lovato got her high school diploma through homeschooling. This was so she could start college classes.
She enrolled at Northridge, California’s Pierce College, a community college affiliated with the Los Angeles Community College District. Lovato took online courses at Pierce College for over a year from 2009-2010.
College Education
Demi Lovato left Pierce College after about a year to focus full-time on music and acting. She has mentioned regretting not being able to complete a full college education.
In interviews, Lovato stated she wishes she could have had a regular college experience at a 4-year university. She said, “I wish I could go back and do college properly at a university with my friends. I missed out on a normal childhood and education.”
Though Lovato didn’t attend a traditional 4-year college, she finds inspiration and education through reading. “I read so many self-help books. I probably know more than any college graduate,” Lovato said.
Honorary Degrees
While Demi Lovato does not have an official college degree, she has been awarded several honorary degrees:
- In 2020, Lovato received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Long Island University for her activism and philanthropic work related to mental health.
- In 2021, she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Boston’s Berklee College of Music. This recognized her advocacy for mental health awareness and her achievements in music.
So while Demi Lovato did not attend a 4-year university or obtain an official college degree, she does hold multiple honorary degrees. These recognize her leadership and positive influence, especially for young people struggling with mental illness.
What Degree Programs Did Demi Lovato Consider?
Even though she did not complete a 4-year college degree, Demi Lovato has discussed what subjects she would have studied if she pursued higher education.
Psychology
In interviews, Lovato has indicated she would have loved to major in psychology. Given her own mental health struggles and advocacy work, studying psychology would align with her interests in mental health treatment and removing stigma.
Through reading books and educating herself, Lovato has gained significant knowledge around psychology, mental illness, and therapy.
Music & Entertainment Studies
Having spent her life in the entertainment industry, Lovato may have also considered studying music, performance, or entertainment management. This could prepare her for the business side of show business.
Programs like arts management or music business allow students to gain a holistic education on the music industry.
Gender & Women’s Studies
Lovato identifies as non-binary and is an outspoken LGBTQ rights advocate. Studying gender, sexuality, and women’s issues in an academic setting would allow Lovato to expand her understanding of topics she’s personally connected to. This could have informed and enriched her advocacy work.
Dual Majors
Ambitious students sometimes pursue dual majors to get broad expertise. For example, Lovato could have studied psychology and music business. This would support her performing career and interests in mental health.
Or she may have chosen women’s studies and psychology, combining her passion for advocacy with science-based knowledge to support her activism.
How Did Demi Lovato’s Time at Pierce College Help Shape Her Career?
Though brief, Demi Lovato’s enrollment at Pierce Community College represented her first and only formal higher education experience. It shaped the beginning of her adult career in several ways.
Provided Flexibility
Attending Pierce College gave Demi Lovato flexibility – she could take online courses while touring and acting. This allowed her to continue developing her career without totally sacrificing academics. A busy performer’s schedule would make enrolling at a traditional college difficult.
Supported Growth
As an adolescent navigating global fame, taking college courses provided structure, skills, and personal growth during a transitional life stage. Having academic goals kept Lovato grounded as her star rose. It gave her a sense of focus and achievement outside music.
Built Foundation
The credits earned at Pierce laid the early groundwork for an eventual degree, should Lovato choose to return to college in the future. Though she didn’t end up completing her program, it gave her a start academically.
Offered Normalcy
For a former child star who felt she missed out on a normal high school experience, attending community college gave Lovato a taste of regular student life. She was able to learn, write papers, take tests, and meet peers like millions of other college students.
How Could Demi Lovato Use College Courses to Enrich Her Future Career?
Though she’s already a hugely successful pop star, Demi Lovato could enroll in college courses or degree programs that provide knowledge to take her career to the next level.
Music Production Programs
Classes in music theory, songwriting, production, engineering, and instrumental performance could refine Lovato’s skills for crafting chart-topping hits. She could bring what she learns back to the studio.
Acting Classes
If Lovato wants to continue growing as an actor, taking acting and improv classes at a university drama program could expand her skills for TV/film roles.
Business Management
Learning the logistics of artist management, live entertainment, PR, and marketing could help Lovato run her career more strategically. This knowledge primes graduates for leadership in the entertainment industry.
Counseling or Social Work
Given her advocacy, Lovato may want to take courses in counseling, social work, or peer support. This could allow her to become a certified counselor or expert providing resources for those struggling with mental health and addiction issues.
Gender/Women’s Studies
Enrolling in gender studies classes would give Lovato more academic rigor behind the activism she does supporting feminist and LGBTQ causes. She could bring this knowledge to her philanthropic initiatives.
Mentorship Programs
Lovato could work with a college’s career center to participate in their alumni mentorship program. Being paired with an entertainment industry grad could provide Lovato career advice and industry connections.
Demi Lovato’s Philanthropic Work with Mental Health On Campus
A huge part of Demi Lovato’s advocacy work focuses on improving mental health support for young people. She has partnered with colleges to provide mental health scholarships and on-campus counseling services.
Demi Lovato Mental Health Scholarship
In 2021, Demi Lovato funded a $500,000 mental health scholarship program with CAST, a digital mental health education provider. The scholarship provides free access to CAST’s mental health and suicide prevention training courses. It is available to over 100 universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States.
Providing suicide prevention training for free is life-saving. Studies show CAST training reduces suicide attempts and saves lives. Lovato said, “College can be an incredible time for learning and growth, but it can also be one of the most emotionally challenging life stages, especially for students struggling with mental health issues.”
Her scholarship expands access to potentially life-saving mental health education when students need it most.
Partnership with The JED Foundation
Lovato has also partnered with The JED Foundation, a nonprofit focused on the mental health of teens and young adults. Together, they have brought a new mental health initiative called JED Campus to colleges.
JED Campus equips over 200 colleges and universities with resources and best practices to support student mental health and prevent suicide. Their programs stress creating healthy campus communities, reducing substance misuse, and crisis preparedness. Lovato’s involvement helps reduce stigma and engage students around these issues.
Table summarizing Demi Lovato’s education:
| Education | Details |
|---|---|
| Homeschooling | Primary education from grades 1-8 while child acting |
| Private Christian school | Brief enrollment in middle school grades |
| High School Diploma | Completed diploma requirements through homeschooling in 2009 |
| Pierce College | Attended 1 year from 2009-2010, mostly online classes |
| 4-Year University | No bachelor’s degree completed |
| Honorary Degrees | Honorary Doctorates from Long Island Univ. and Berklee College of Music |
Conclusion
Though Demi Lovato’s college experience was limited to a year at Pierce College, education remains important to her career and activism. She continues learning and building skills throughreading in psychology and self-help.
Lovato also uses her platform to expand mental health services for college students, understanding first-hand those challenges. While Lovato moved on quickly from her brief community college enrollment to focus on performing, those courses provided flexibility and personal growth at a transitional life stage. College remains a goal Lovato aspires to complete in the future.
Summary of Demi Lovato’s Education:
- Homeschooled as a child star
- Studied briefly at private Christian school in Texas
- Earned high school diploma through homeschooling in 2009
- Attended Pierce College community college in 2009-2010 with focus on online classes
- Left Pierce College after 1 year to pursue music/acting full-time
- No 4-year college degree but has received honorary doctorates
- Expresses interest in earning a degree in psychology in the future
Frequently Asked Questions About Demi Lovato’s College Background
Where did Demi Lovato go to college?
Demi Lovato briefly attended Pierce College, a community college in Los Angeles, from 2009-2010. She took online classes at Pierce while touring and acting. Lovato earned her high school diploma in 2009 via homeschooling before enrolling at Pierce.
What did Demi Lovato study in college?
At Pierce College, Lovato studied a general range of academic subjects. As a new community college student, she would have focused on completing general education requirements through introductory classes. Lovato took online courses with the intent of eventually transferring to a 4-year university.
Why didn’t Demi Lovato finish college?
After about a year at Pierce College, Lovato left school to focus full time on her exploding music and acting career. As opportunities grew, she did not have time for classes along with touring, recording albums, filming TV shows and movies, and giving interviews. Lovato has expressed regret that she couldn’t finish earning her degree.
Does Demi Lovato have a college degree?
No, Demi Lovato does not currently hold an official associate or bachelor’s degree from any college or university. She studied briefly at Pierce College but did not obtain a degree. Lovato has been awarded several honorary degrees recognizing her advocacy and career achievements.
What college degree would Demi Lovato pursue now?
In interviews, Lovato has discussed wanting to earn a psychology degree if she were to attend college today. She is deeply interested in mental health and thinks she would thrive in psychology courses. Lovato also mentions possibly double majoring, studying subjects like music business, women’s studies, or social work alongside psychology.
Demi Lovato’s College Background: Key Takeaways
- Homeschooled as a child, Lovato later earned her diploma online in 2009
- She attended Pierce College in LA for about 1 year from 2009-2010
- Online classes allowed her to work towards a degree while acting/music touring
- Did not complete degree program due to demanding career schedule
- Holds honorary degrees but no official associate or bachelor’s degree
- Interested in earning psychology degree and perhaps double majoring
- Partners with colleges to bring mental health programs and scholarships