Why are Austinites so proud of our local universities? Because we’ve got a Texas-sized list of notable names to show for it.
In honor of graduation season, let’s take a look at some of the most famous folks who earned their degrees at schools in the Austin area.
University of Texas
Lady Bird Johnson | Class of 1933 | Bachelor of Arts in History
After graduating with a history major, Lady Bird earned a journalism degree in 1934, which is the same year she married Lyndon B. Johnson.
Robert Cade | Class of 1948 | Bachelor of Arts
Cade grew up in San Antonio and went on to invent Gatorade.
Bill Moyers | Class of 1956 | Bachelor of Arts in Journalism
Moyers wrote for The Daily Texan at UT Austin before becoming the White House Press Secretary and a famous journalist.
Laura Bush | Class of 1973 | Master of Library Science
The former first lady opened the Texas Family Literary Center on UT Austin’s campus in 1999.
Neil deGrasse Tyson | Class of 1983 | Master of Astronomy
The famed astrologer is now the host of StarTalk.
Rick Riordan | Class of 1986 | Bachelor of Arts in English and History
Riordan went on to write the “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” books, which were eventually adapted to a two-film series and a TV show.
Wes Anderson | Class of 1991 | Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
The filmmaker had an equally famous college roommate — Owen Wilson — who didn’t graduate.
Renée Zellweger | Class of 1992 | Bachelor of Arts in English Literature
The Oscar-winning actress was featured in the 1993 Austin-filmed movie “Dazed and Confused.”
Matthew McConaughey | Class of 1993 | Bachelor of Science in Radio-Television-Film
McConaughey has been a visiting instructor at the university since 2015.
Brené Brown | Class of 1995 | Master of Social Work
Brown is now the author of more than half a dozen New York Times bestsellers.
Texas State University
Lyndon B. Johnson | Class of 1930 | Bachelor of Science in History
It is a TXST tradition to shake the hand of the former president’s on-campus statue at the start of each semester.
George Strait | Class of 1979 | Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
The country music legend was granted an honorary doctorate from the institution in 2006.
Charles Austin | Class of 1991 | Bachelor of Business Administration
Austin took home an Olympic gold medal for the men’s high jump in 1996.
Lizzie Velásquez | Class of 2012 | Bachelor of Communication Studies
The motivational speaker and YouTuber is also the author of several books, including “Dare to be Kind.”
Huston-Tillotson University
Norman Scales Sr. | Graduated prior to 1940 | Major unknown
Norman became a Tuskegee Airman and the first Black pilot commissioned as a second lieutenant from Austin.
Dr. Herman A. Barnett III | Class of 1948 | Pre-med
Later, Dr. Barnett became the first Black man to graduate from UT Medical School.
Azie Taylor Morton | Class of 1956 | Bachelor of Science in Commercial Education
The Bastrop County native was the Treasurer of the United States during the Carter administration and remains the only Black individual to hold that office.
Looking for names like Michael Dell, Jon Hamm, Taylor Sheridan, and Janis Joplin? While they attended Central Texas universities, they never made it to commencement.
