Where Did Nicki Minaj Go To College?

Nicki Minaj, born Onika Tanya Maraj, grew up in Queens, New York. She had a difficult childhood, with a father who was abusive and struggled with drug addictions. However, Minaj remained committed to her education as a path towards a better life.

Minaj attended Elizabeth Blackwell Middle School 210, where she participated in the drama program. She then went on to LaGuardia High School in Manhattan, which specializes in music and the arts. At LaGuardia, Minaj performed in the school choir and took acting classes.

After graduating high school in 2000, Minaj pursued further education opportunities to continue nurturing her creative talents.

College Years

In 2000, Nicki Minaj was accepted to Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, a prestigious visual and performing arts high school in New York City. However, she opted not to attend LaGuardia High due to the extensive commute from her home in Queens.

Instead, Minaj attended a local high school and focused on her academics. After graduating in 2002, she enrolled at Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC).

About Borough of Manhattan Community College

Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) is a public community college in New York City. It is part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system.

Some key facts about BMCC:

• Location: New York, NY
• Founded: 1963
• Type of school: Public, 2-year community college
• Student enrollment: Over 26,000 students
• Programs offered: Associates degrees, certificate programs in business, health, human services, liberal arts

Minaj’s Experience at BMCC

Nicki Minaj attended BMCC from 2002-2003. She has spoken about working hard in her college courses, especially science, before ultimately deciding to drop out to pursue her rapping career full-time.

Minaj did not complete her degree at BMCC. However, the college gave her a strong educational foundation and flexibility to explore her interests before focusing on music.

In 2012, BMCC honored Minaj with an invitation to speak at their commencement ceremony. She encouraged graduates to follow their dreams, like she did in leaving college to achieve hip hop success.

Later Musical Career

After leaving college in 2003, Nicki Minaj dedicated herself fully to rapping. She started releasing mixtapes and posting freestyle videos online to get her name out.

Her singing and rapping abilities soon caught the attention of Lil Wayne, who became her mentor and collaborator. They released mixtapes together and Minaj signed to Lil Wayne’s record label, Young Money Entertainment.

Minaj’s debut studio album, Pink Friday, was released in 2010 and reached triple platinum status in the US. She achieved further success with albums like Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (2012) and The Pinkprint (2014).

Over the years, Minaj has become one of the best-selling and most influential female rappers of all time. She has won numerous awards for her music, including:

• 6 American Music Awards
• 5 MTV Video Music Awards
• 4 Billboard Music Awards
• 3 MTV Europe Music Awards

Though she never finished her degree, Minaj’s brief time at Borough of Manhattan Community College was an important step on her path to superstardom. The college later honored her success by inviting her back as a commencement speaker.

Why Did Nicki Minaj Choose BMCC?

Nicki Minaj chose to attend BMCC for several key reasons:

Location

• BMCC is located in Manhattan, close to Minaj’s childhood home in Queens. This made it convenient for her to commute.

Cost

• As a public community college, BMCC offered an affordable education compared to other options. This was important given Minaj’s childhood in a low-income household.

Smaller Class Sizes

• BMCC’s average class size is 28 students, compared to large lecture classes at many universities. This gave Minaj more individual attention from professors.

Variety of Programs

• BMCC offers a wide array of associate’s degrees and certificate programs. This allowed Minaj to explore different subjects as she figured out her career path.

Transfer Opportunities

• Many BMCC students go on to transfer and complete 4-year degrees. Minaj could have used BMCC as a stepping stone to a bachelor’s degree.

So for an aspiring artist living in NYC, BMCC provided Minaj with an affordable, convenient, and flexible college option. It gave her time to develop as a musician before deciding to pursue hip hop full time.

Nicki Minaj’s Impact on BMCC

Although Nicki Minaj only attended BMCC briefly in the early 2000s, she has had a major impact on the college over the years:

• Increased visibility: As she gained fame, Minaj put BMCC in the spotlight and increased awareness of the school.
• Commencement speaker: In 2012, BMCC invited Minaj to give the commencement speech. This was a source of pride and excitement on campus.
• Inspiration for students: Minaj’s success after leaving BMCC motivates current students to follow their dreams.
• Scholarships: In 2017, BMCC used proceeds from Minaj’s speaking fee to create scholarships for incoming students. This supports the next generation of artists.
• Enrollment growth: Applications to BMCC increased in the years following Minaj’s rise to stardom. Students were drawn to the college that helped launch her career.

By choosing BMCC, even for a short time, Minaj demonstrated that an affordable community college can be a valuable part of someone’s path to success. BMCC takes pride in being part of her journey.

Nicki Minaj’s Net Worth and Career Earnings

Nicki Minaj has become one of the most financially successful female rappers of all time. Here is an overview of her net worth and how she has earned so much over her career:

Total Net Worth: Approximately $85 million (2022 estimate)

Key Sources of Minaj’s Wealth:

• Music sales
  • Over 100 million singles sold
  • 5 platinum albums
• Touring & live performances
  • Completed 5 headlining tours
  • Grossed over $500 million touring
• Endorsements & sponsorships
  • Partnerships with companies like MAC, Adidas, & Sprint
  • Launched fragrances (Pink Friday, Minajesty)
• Business investments
  • Owns stake in the music streaming service Tidal
  • Invested in technology and real estate

As one of the best-selling music artists ever, Minaj has been able to amass an enormous net worth for herself through album sales, touring, endorsements, and business deals. While she did not finish her degree at BMCC, Minaj’s creative talents and drive led her to massive financial success.

Conclusion

In conclusion, although Nicki Minaj is now an internationally famous rapper, she took a very common educational path early on in attending a local NYC community college. Borough of Manhattan Community College gave Minaj an affordable, convenient option to start her college education while still pursuing her passion for rapping on the side.

When Minaj ultimately left school to focus on her music career, it demonstrated that BMCC served its purpose in providing a supportive environment where she could develop her skills as an artist.

Even though she moved on, BMCC takes great pride in being part of Nicki Minaj’s background. Her experience shows that a community college can be an important foundation on the road to success.

Frequently Asked Questions about Nicki Minaj and BMCC

Why did Nicki Minaj go to community college instead of a 4-year university?

Nicki Minaj chose to attend community college for the location, cost, and flexibility it offered. BMCC allowed her to stay close to home in Queens while exploring different subjects affordably. The small class sizes also gave her more personalized attention.

What did Nicki Minaj study when she was at BMCC?

Minaj took a range of general education courses at BMCC, including the sciences. She has spoken about working hard on her academics there, though she did not declare a major before leaving college to pursue her music career.

How long was Nicki Minaj at BMCC before dropping out?

Nicki Minaj attended BMCC for approximately one year, from 2002-2003, before making the decision to drop out and focus full time on her rapping career.

Why did BMCC invite Minaj to be their commencement speaker?

BMCC invited Minaj to give their 2012 commencement speech in honor of her success. Although she never finished her degree, Minaj demonstrated that BMCC was an important early step on her path to superstardom. BMCC took pride in being part of her journey.

Does Nicki Minaj sponsor any scholarships or programs at BMCC today?

Yes, following her commencement speech, BMCC used part of Minaj’s speaking fee to establish scholarship funds for incoming students. This allows the college to support the artistic ambitions of future students.