Shaquille O’Neal isn’t just a legend on the court. He’s out here changing the game for students who’ve been told college isn’t for them, and I’m here for it.
On CBS Mornings, Shaq—who has three degrees and a doctorate in education—talked about why access to college shouldn’t be a privilege, but a right. And instead of just talking, he’s cutting checks and creating opportunities.
Shaq partnered with Campus.edu to launch the Try College initiative, paying full tuition for 500 high schoolers and recent grads to take real college courses for credit. No strings, no income tests—just opportunity.
“There are too many kids wondering if college is worth it,” Shaq said. “They either feel like they’re not college material or think the price tag is out of reach. That’s a shame.”
He’s also behind the new Shaq Scholars program, which will cover the cost of associate degrees in Business Administration or IT. These students won’t just get tuition paid—they’ll get laptops, Wi-Fi, mentorship and career coaching from real professionals who look like success.
And because Shaq doesn’t just talk the talk, he’s working on becoming “Professor O’Neal” himself, studying at Alabama State University so he can teach courses in business and mentorship.
This is what it looks like when influence meets impact. Shaq is showing young people that education is still one of the biggest keys to generational wealth and real options in life.
Because at the end of the day, when someone opens a door for you, you don’t just walk through—you hold it open for the next person. That’s exactly what Shaq is doing.