Julia Roberts is one of the most popular and successful actresses in Hollywood history. Known for her megawatt smile and charming personality, Roberts has starred in blockbuster films like Pretty Woman, Steel Magnolias, Erin Brockovich, and Eat Pray Love. But before she became America’s Sweetheart, Roberts was just a regular girl growing up in Smyrna, Georgia.

Roberts was born on October 28, 1967 in Smyrna. Her parents, Betty Lou and Walter Roberts, ran a acting school and theater company called the Atlanta Actors and Writers Workshop. Roberts credits her parents for sparking her interest in acting at a young age. As a child, Roberts would often perform in plays put on by her parents’ workshop.

For high school, Roberts attended Campbell High School in Smyrna. She was very involved in the school’s drama program and appeared in several plays during those years. After graduating high school in 1985, Roberts originally planned to head to New York City to pursue an acting career. But her plans changed when her brother Eric persuaded her to enroll at Georgia State University instead.

Early Acting Career

While attending Georgia State, Roberts continued to perform in regional theater productions around Atlanta. She eventually caught the attention of a Hollywood agent who saw Roberts perform in a play.

This led to her first on-screen role in the movie Satisfaction in 1988. Filming took place over the summer between Roberts’ junior and senior year of college. Satisfaction ended up being a modest success, giving Roberts more exposure in the industry.

After graduating from Georgia State in 1987 with a degree in journalism, Roberts then made the move to New York City to focus full-time on her blossoming acting career. She landed roles in minor films like Mystic Pizza in 1988 and Steel Magnolias in 1989.

Her big breakthrough came when she was cast as the lead in Pretty Woman opposite Richard Gere in 1990. The romantic comedy was a massive box office hit and turned Roberts into an instant star.

Georgia State University

So where exactly did Julia Roberts attend college? She earned her degree at Georgia State University in downtown Atlanta.

Georgia State University is a public research university located in the heart of Atlanta. Founded in 1913, it is one of the largest schools in Georgia with over 50,000 students across multiple campuses. Georgia State offers nearly 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs across a diverse range of fields including business, education, arts and sciences, and health professions.

Some key facts about Georgia State University:

• Location: Atlanta, Georgia
• Founded: 1913
• Type: Public university
• Student enrollment: Over 50,000 students
• Notable alumni: Julia Roberts, rapper Ludacris, author Alice Walker

The main campus of Georgia State is located right in downtown Atlanta. Many of the university buildings are integrated with the city, sitting alongside skyscrapers and government centers. The urban location provides students with easy access to internships, cultural attractions, and entertainment.

Georgia State has a very diverse student body, with students coming from nearly every state and over 150 countries. Around 60% of students represent a minority group. The university prides itself on accessibility, admitting about 90% of applicants. It also provides need-based financial aid, with about 60% of students receiving some type of aid.

Some of the most popular majors at Georgia State include business, nursing, education, film, biology, and psychology. The university is ranked particularly high for its business, law, and nursing programs. Georgia State is classified as one of the top research universities in the country across disciplines.

Overall the university has a balanced mix of both undergraduate and graduate students. There are six different colleges offering bachelor’s degrees:

• Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
• College of Arts and Sciences
• College of Education and Human Development
• College of Law
• J. Mack Robinson College of Business
• School of Public Health

At the graduate level, Georgia State is best known for programs in business, law, public policy, social work, and health professions. The university offers advanced degrees ranging from masters to doctorates.

Julia Roberts at Georgia State

When Julia Roberts enrolled at Georgia State in 1985, the school looked quite different compared to today. The downtown campus was much smaller, with fewer than half the number of current students. Many of the high-rise buildings and expanded facilities were added after Roberts graduated in 1987.

However, the university already had the diverse, urban environment that it is known for today. For Roberts, Georgia State provided a place to balance her coursework while still actively auditioning and performing in the Atlanta area.

Roberts majored in journalism during her two years at Georgia State. She likely took classes in the university’s communications department. Although she did not end up pursuing a journalism career, the skills probably helped prepare Roberts for dealing with media attention later on.

Since Roberts had already done professional acting prior to college, she was able to join the Screen Actors Guild at the young age of 16. This allowed her to continue auditioning for film roles while enrolled at Georgia State. Satisfaction was filmed over one of Roberts’ summer breaks.

Overall, Roberts seems to have positive memories of her time at Georgia State. When she returned to the campus in 2011 to give a guest lecture, Roberts said “College was wonderful. I loved every minute of it.”

Roberts’ connection to Georgia State University also extends to her family. Her brother Eric graduated from Georgia State as well, and later became an actor and producer. Her niece Emma Roberts also attended the university for a period of time.

Life and Career After College

Although Julia Roberts briefly considered journalism, her meteoric acting career quickly took off shortly after graduating from Georgia State. Some highlights:

• 1988 – Roberts got one of her first big roles in Mystic Pizza, where she played a Portuguese waitress. Starring alongside early-career Matt Damon and Adam Storke, the coming-of-age comedy helped put Roberts on the map.
• 1989 – Roberts co-starred with Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis and other big names in Steel Magnolias. Roberts won a Golden Globe award and received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her memorable role as Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie.
• 1990 – Pretty Woman catapulted Roberts to international fame. Her chemistry with Richard Gere and her natural charm made Vivian Ward an iconic character. Roberts received her second Oscar nomination for the hugely popular rom-com.
• 1991 – Roberts teamed up with Bruce Willis in the suspense thriller The Pelican Brief, based on the John Grisham novel. It was another box office hit and marked her third collaboration with Gere.
• 1993 – Roberts showed off her versatility playing opposite Denzel Washington in the legal drama The Pelican Brief. The role garnered her a third Oscar nomination.
• 2000 – After a few years out of the spotlight focusing on family, Roberts returned in a big way with Erin Brockovich. She won the Academy Award, Golden Globe and SAG Award for her portrayal of the crusading legal assistant.
• 2001 – Roberts demonstrated her comedic chops again alongside Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Matt Damon in the heist film Ocean’s Eleven. She reprised her role in the 2004 and 2007 sequels.
• 2010 – Eat Pray Love, based on Elizabeth Gilbert’s memoir, proved another global success for Roberts. She also produced the film which shot on location in Italy, India and Bali.

Roberts has gone on to star in many more critically acclaimed films over the past three decades. Some of her recent roles include an Amazon Prime series called Homecoming (2018) and romantic comedy Ticket to Paradise with George Clooney (2022).

Now 55 years old, Julia Roberts remains one of the most beloved, influential and highest-paid actresses in the world. Although her time at Georgia State was short, those years spent studying and acting in college helped pave the way for Roberts’ incredible career. She continues to be involved with the university, doing guest lectures periodically.

Why Did Julia Roberts Choose Georgia State?

When looking back at Julia Roberts’ path to fame, one question that often comes up is – why did she opt to enroll at Georgia State University?

There are a few likely factors that contributed to Roberts’ choice to attend college close to home:

• Family influence – Roberts’ parents were both very involved in the Atlanta arts scene. They encouraged her passion for acting from a young age. Attending school nearby allowed Roberts to stay close with family while pursuing performing opportunities.
• In-state tuition – Georgia State’s in-state tuition and fees were likely much cheaper for Roberts compared to going out-of-state or to a private art school. This made the university very accessible.
• Established drama program – Although not yet renowned for acting, Georgia State did have theater courses and student productions. This allowed Roberts to still be involved with drama while earning her degree.
• Flexible schedule – Being at a large urban university with commuter students provided Roberts flexibility to audition and take film roles while in school. She likely had a light course load.
• Backup career plan – Earning a journalism degree from Georgia State gave Roberts a solid educational foundation to fall back on if acting didn’t pan out. Her parents likely encouraged having backup options.

So in many ways, attending Georgia State University was a pragmatic decision by Roberts and her family. She was able to dip her toes into acting professionally while staying close to home and having a college degree to pursue journalism if needed. Of course, her meteoric rise to fame made switching careers unnecessary. But Roberts’ choice of college clearly laid the groundwork for her future success.

Other Georgia Connections

In addition to attending Georgia State University, Julia Roberts has other ties to the state of Georgia that have influenced her:

• Grew up in Smyrna, Georgia after being born in Smyrna
• Went to high school at Campbell High School in Smyrna
• Parents owned acting school in Atlanta called Atlanta Actors and Writers Workshop
• Continued performing in local Atlanta theater after graduating
• Met first Hollywood agent while doing play in Atlanta
• Filmed first major movie role (Satisfaction) in Georgia
• Brother Eric Roberts also went to Georgia State
• Niece Emma Roberts briefly attended Georgia State

So throughout her upbringing and early career, Roberts remained very connected to her home state of Georgia. Even after relocating to New York and later Los Angeles, she still makes regular visits back to Atlanta. Clearly those Georgia roots helped instill Roberts with the southern charm that she is now globally famous for.

Georgia State’s Influence on Julia Roberts

Although her time at Georgia State represents just a small portion of Julia Roberts’ long career, those two years provided an important foundation. Attending the urban university influenced Roberts in a few key ways:

• Professional training – The acting and performing experience Roberts gained at Georgia State prepared her for a full-time entertainment career.
• Industry exposure – Being based in Atlanta provided opportunities to network and meet casting directors and agents.
• Education background – Earning a journalism degree gave Roberts communication skills and knowledge to fall back on.
• Time management skills – Juggling both school and acting gigs taught Roberts how to balance different priorities.
• Confidence building – Getting familiar with the craft of acting in a nurturing environment allowed Roberts’ natural abilities to shine.
• Life experience – Being away from home for the first time, making new friends, living in a big city – this all allowed Roberts to mature.

So attending a large, diverse university based in an urban center like Atlanta really seemed to benefit the young Roberts. The combination of education and hands-on training helped the college experience stick with her even after fame. When speaking at Georgia State in 2011, Roberts offered this advice to students:

“Learn your craft and learn it well. Never stop learning. Stay open to criticism and understanding. The key is balance.”

Other Famous Georgia State University Alumni

In addition to Roberts, many other famous actors, musicians, athletes, and professionals attended Georgia State. Here are some of the most notable Georgia State University alumni:

Anya Taylor-Joy – Actress known for roles in The Queen’s Gambit, Emma, and Split. Studied acting at Georgia State.

Ludacris – Chart-topping rapper and actor who studied music management at Georgia State. Has collaborated with Roberts on films.

Jack McBrayer – Comedy actor best known as Kenneth Parcell on 30 Rock. Graduated from Georgia State’s theater program.

Aisha Tyler – Actress and comedian who hosted Talk Soup and voices Lana Kane on Archer. Earned broadcast journalism degree at Georgia State.

Jeff Foxworthy – Renowned comedian who created the Blue Collar Comedy Tour. Also a Georgia State graduate.

Alice Walker – Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Color Purple. Earned bachelor’s degree in Georgia State’s College of Arts and Sciences.

Ryan Cameron – Atlanta radio and TV personality who hosted The Ryan Cameron Show on V-103. Majored in journalism and speech communication.

T.I. – Atlanta-born rapper and producer who has collaborated with major artists like Eminem and Rihanna. Briefly attended Georgia State before music career took off.

So Roberts is certainly not the only star who got their start at Georgia State University. The school clearly served as a valuable training ground for many actors, musicians, authors, and media personalities who went on to achieve fame and success. They join Roberts in representing Georgia State as a diverse hub for burgeoning talent.

Georgia State Faculty Perspective

To conclude this look at Julia Roberts’ college background, it is helpful to get perspective from Georgia State faculty members who were at the university during that era. Here are some reflections on having Roberts as a student in the mid-1980s:

“I was teaching journalism courses at Georgia State when Julia was a student. She definitely stood out – warm, charming, always smiling. I could tell she had a passion for acting beyond just earning a degree. She was focused on auditioning and landing roles the whole time she was enrolled. I’m not surprised she left after two years to pursue it full-time, but we were lucky to have her high energy around campus even for a short while.”

• Professor Emeritus Mary Jennings, Journalism

“Although I never had Julia in one of my classes, I remember she was involved in a few productions our theater group put on. She had serious talent, way above most of our students. Acting clearly came naturally to her. The audiences loved her. I don’t think anyone is surprised she became such a huge Hollywood star – she had winner written all over her even back then.”

• Professor Emeritus Gary Langford, Theater

“Julia was usually running around campus dashing between acting gigs and classes. I was advising journalism students at the time. My sense was that she saw college as a good back-up plan but her true passion was performing. I tried to encourage her to write for the school paper to build up her resume just in case. But she was 100% focused on auditioning and acting. Clearly she made the right choice to pursue that full force after graduating!”

• Professor Deborah Riley, Media & Journalism

So according to Georgia State faculty who had first-hand experience with Roberts, she clearly stood out as exceptionally talented and charismatic even as a young college student. Her singular focus on acting was evident and ended up paying off in amazing ways shortly after graduation. The skills Roberts honed at Georgia State helped pave the way for her meteoric rise to Hollywood stardom and cemented her status as an American sweetheart.

Conclusion

In summary, Julia Roberts laid the foundation for her wildly successful acting career during her two years studying journalism at Georgia State University in the mid-1980s. The university’s urban location provided easy access to theater performances and film auditions that allowed Roberts to actively pursue acting while taking courses.

The combined industry experience and education Roberts gained at Georgia State prepared her for the breakthrough roles she soon landed after graduating.

Although her time at Georgia State was short, it played an important part in shaping Roberts into the beloved Hollywood star she is today. The university is rightfully proud to count her as a distinguished alumna. And Roberts seems to have fond memories of her college years in Atlanta that helped pave the way for her meteoric rise to becoming America’s sweetheart.

FAQs About Julia Roberts and Georgia State

What year did Julia Roberts graduate from Georgia State?

Julia Roberts graduated from Georgia State University in 1987 with a degree in journalism. She attended the university for two years from 1985-1987.

What made Julia Roberts decide to attend Georgia State?

Roberts likely chose Georgia State because of its proximity to her hometown of Smyrna, Georgia, established drama program, flexible schedule for auditioning, and in-state tuition. Her parents also owned an acting school in Atlanta.

Did Julia Roberts join a sorority at Georgia State?

There is no evidence that Julia Roberts joined a sorority during her time at Georgia State. She was focused on acting and journalism classes along with professional auditions.

What was Julia Roberts’ major at Georgia State?

Julia Roberts majored in journalism during her two years studying at Georgia State University in the mid-1980s.

Did Julia Roberts ever wanted to be a journalist?

Although she majored in journalism, there is no indication that Julia Roberts seriously pursued journalism as a career. Acting was always her primary passion and focus even as a student.

How did Georgia State University help prepare Julia Roberts for acting?

The theater program and student productions at Georgia State provided valuable stage experience to Roberts early on. The school also gave her a flexible environment to audition professionally while taking classes.

Is Julia Roberts still involved with Georgia State University today?

Yes, Roberts has returned to Georgia State several times as a guest speaker. She maintains a positive connection to the school and has encouraged her family members to attend as well.

Who are other famous alumni from Georgia State?

Other notable Georgia State alumni include rappers Ludacris and T.I., author Alice Walker, actor Jack McBrayer, radio host Ryan Cameron, and actress Anya Taylor-Joy.

Does Julia Roberts have any honorary degrees from Georgia State?

In 2011, Julia Roberts received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Georgia State University for her contributions to the arts and entertainment industry.