Shaquille O’Neal has dominated basketball courts, boardrooms, and broadcast booths, but now he’s taking on a new challenge: making college feel possible for everyone.
Through a groundbreaking partnership with Campus.edu, the NBA Hall of Famer has launched the Shaq Scholars Program, a full-tuition scholarship initiative aimed at helping standout students earn competitive two-year degrees without the burden of student debt.
“Too many kids think college isn’t for them, either because they don’t see themselves as ‘college material’ or because the price tag feels impossible,” O’Neal said. “We’re changing that.”
Shaq is out to prove college is for everybody.
That’s why he teamed up with Campus to cover tuition for standout students to earn competitive two-year degrees.
The Shaq Scholars program gives students a shot at higher education without crushing debt — taught by professors from… pic.twitter.com/QMbHzzW5mE
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) August 25, 2025
The Shaq Scholars Program offers full-ride scholarships to exceptional students, covering tuition, textbooks, and course materials. The degrees are taught by professors from elite institutions like Stanford, Princeton, and NYU, bringing Ivy League-level instruction to a broader audience.
Students can pursue associate degrees in high-demand fields such as business, marketing, economics, and English composition. The program also includes: A personal success coach for every student, unlimited math and writing tutoring, a free, Wi-Fi-enabled laptop and flexible online learning designed for working students and nontraditional learners.
Campus.edu, the platform behind the initiative, is a modern community college built to maximize access to world-class education. Its mission aligns perfectly with Shaq’s long-standing commitment to youth empowerment and educational equity.
The Shaq Scholars Program isn’t just about financial aid, it’s about rewriting the narrative around who belongs in college. With enrollment rates declining and skepticism about the value of degrees rising, O’Neal wants to restore confidence in higher education by making it more attainable and relevant.
“We believe everyone should have access to higher learning,” he said. “This is about giving people a shot to prove what they can do.”
Shaq has long been a champion of education. He earned his bachelor’s degree from LSU, followed by an MBA and a doctorate in education. His latest venture reflects that same belief: that learning is a lifelong pursuit, and opportunity should never be gated by income or background.
The first cohort of Shaq Scholars is already underway, with hundreds of students enrolled and more expected to join in the coming months.
