Key Takeaways
- The youngest ever college graduate is Michael Kearney.
- Other young college graduates include Moshe Kai Cavalin, Laurent Simons, Clovis Hung, Sho Yano, Gregory Robert Smith, Erik Demaine, Alia Sabur, Carson Huey-You, Eugenie Carys de Silva, and Kathleen Holtz.
- From earning college degrees before age 13 to completing a Ph.D and working at NASA or MIT, these young graduates show that age is no barrier to brilliance.
- Though there are often unique challenges along the path to early college graduation, these 11 graduates prove that it’s possible, often with the support of mentors, family, and flexible learning environments.
Flickr user Josh Grenier
Meet the youngest college graduate ever: Michael Kearney. He entered college when he was just 8 years old, graduated with a bachelor’s degree at 10, and completed his first master’s degree at 14! Crazy, right?
Believe it or not, he’s not the only one. There are even a few others who completed their first college degree before turning 13. While it may be challenging, graduating from college before becoming a teenager is not impossible. From future doctors to professors, let’s look at some of these young grads who prove that passion and focus can make anything possible.
Fun Fact: The oldest person on this list, Kathleen Holtz, became a college graduate at just 15 years old! At that age, most students are still in high school.
11 of the Youngest College Graduates
1. Kathleen Holtz
- Age at Graduation: 15 years
- Graduation Year: 2004
- Degree: Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy
- School: California State University – Los Angeles
Kathleen Holtz enrolled at California State University, Los Angeles, at just 10 years old and earned her philosophy degree by 15. She then went on to UCLA School of Law, graduating at 18 with her Juris Doctor—making her one of the youngest law school grads in U.S. history. That same year, she passed the California State Bar and became the youngest licensed attorney in the state.
Holtz began her legal career handling complex civil cases at a Los Angeles firm. When asked if she regretted skipping high school, she said she was simply bored and didn’t feel like she missed anything, not even prom!
2. Eugenie Carys de Silva
- Age at Graduation: 14
- Graduation Year: 2013
- Degree: Bachelor’s Degree in Intelligence Analysis
- School: American Military University
Eugenie Carys de Silva, from Manchester, England, finished high school at just 11 and earned her bachelor’s degree in Intelligence Analysis by 14, with a perfect 4.0 GPA. She went on to complete two master’s degrees, including one from Harvard, and earned her Ph.D. in Politics at 15, making her the youngest to do so in the U.K.
Today, Eugenie holds multiple advanced degrees and continues her research in peace and intelligence studies. She also speaks publicly, writes educational books, and founded the International Association of Child Prodigies to support other gifted youth.
3. Carson Huey-You
- Age at Graduation: 14 years
- Graduation Year: 2017
- Degree: Bachelor’s Degree in Physics
- School: Texas Christian University
Carson Huey-You showed an early love for math and science—learning algebra at 3 and reading chapter books by 5. He graduated from high school at 10 and earned his bachelor’s degree in physics from Texas Christian University at just 14.
Carson went on to complete his master’s by 17 and began Ph.D. research in quantum physics. While growing up on campus, he also mentored his younger brother, proving that age is no limit when it comes to learning and leading.
4. Alia Sabur
- Age at Graduation:14
- Graduation Year: 2003
- Degree: Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Mathematics
- School: Stony Brook University
Alia Sabur started college at just 10 years old, earning her bachelor’s in applied mathematics from Stony Brook University by the age of 14. She went on to receive a master’s in materials science and engineering from Drexel and, at 18, became the world’s youngest professor.
Just days before her 19th birthday, she began teaching at Konkuk University in Seoul—a milestone that earned her a Guinness World Record. Outside of academics, Alia also holds a black belt in Taekwondo, which she pursued to stand up to bullies and build confidence.
5. Erik Demaine
- Age at Graduation: 14 years
- Graduation Year: 1995
- Degree: Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy
- School: Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada
Erik Demaine was homeschooled on the road by his craftsman father, teaching himself subjects like spelling by age 9. At just 12, he enrolled at Dalhousie University in Canada and earned his bachelor’s in two years.
By 20, he completed his Ph.D. and became the youngest professor ever hired by MIT’s computer science department. Today, he’s known for his pioneering work in computational origami and continues to inspire students through research and mentorship at MIT.
6. Gregory Robert Smith
- Age at Graduation:13
- Graduation Year: 2003
- Degree: Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics
- School: Randolph-Macon College
Gregory Smith raced through school, finishing elementary in a year and starting high school before age 7. By 10, he was studying advanced calculus, physics, and French in college, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics at 13.
He went on to earn multiple master’s degrees and a Ph.D. in biological sciences from Carnegie Mellon. Now a postdoctoral researcher at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, he studies gene expression and works toward developing better drugs, while also earning five Nobel Peace Prize nominations for his advocacy for children’s rights.
7. Sho Yano
- Age at Graduation: 12
- Graduation Year: 2003
- Degree: Bachelor’s Degree
- School: Loyola University Chicago
Sho Yano began college at just 9 years old and graduated summa cum laude from Loyola University Chicago at 12. By 18, he had earned a Ph.D. in molecular genetics and cell biology, and at 21, became the youngest M.D. in history after finishing medical school at the University of Chicago.
With an estimated IQ of 200, Sho has been impressing the world since he was 2—reading early, scoring 1500 on the SAT, and composing piano music at 5. Today, he’s a pediatric neurology resident, driven by a passion sparked during a rotation at LaRabida Children’s Hospital.
8. Clovis Hung
- Age at Graduation: 12 years
- Graduation Year: 2023
- Degree: Associate’s Degrees in Science and Mathematics, Social Behavior and Self-Development, Arts and Human Expression, Social Sciences, and History
- School: California State University – Fullerton
Clovis Hung started college at age 9 and graduated at 12 with five associate’s degrees in subjects ranging from Science and Mathematics to History. His mother withdrew him from public school to better fuel his curiosity, motivating him to outpace the previous youngest graduate at Fullerton College.
Enrolled through the school’s ‘Special Admit’ program and supported by a tailored homeschool curriculum, Clovis thrived with encouragement from classmates and professors. Today, he’s exploring careers in aerospace and medicine while aiming to earn his pilot’s license by 16.
9. Laurent Simons
- Age at Graduation:11
- Graduation Year: 2021
- Degree: Bachelor’s Degree in Physics
- School: University of Antwerp
Laurent Simons is one of the most recent young college graduates, earning his place on this list in 2021. Tied with Moshe Kai Cavalin as the second youngest college graduate, both earned their degrees at just 11 years old.
From Belgium, Simons was on track to graduate before his 10th birthday, but was unable to take the required tests at Eindhoven University, leading him to leave the school. He then enrolled at the University of Antwerp, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in physics at 11, graduating summa cum laude with an 85% grade.
Simons is now researching how to replace body parts with mechanical ones and plans to continue his education with the goal of advancing this groundbreaking work.
10. Moshe Kai Cavalin
- Age at Graduation:11
- Graduation Year: 2009
- Degree: Associate’s Degree in Mathematics
- School: East Los Angeles College
Moshe Kai Cavalin, tied as the second youngest college graduate, started college at just 8 years old at East Los Angeles College. He earned his associate’s degree in mathematics with a perfect 4.0 GPA by age 11. He then attended UCLA on a full scholarship and graduated at 15.
Cavalin went on to earn a Master of Science in Information Security Management from Brandeis University at 18, followed by another Master’s in Marketing from Arizona State University two years later. While still a student, he interned at NASA at 17, helping develop surveillance technology for drones and airplanes. By that age, he had also published two books.
Today, Cavalin works as a product manager at Intel and is a martial arts champion. Despite his achievements, he humbly avoids being labeled a genius.
11. Michael Kearney
- Age at Graduation:10
- Graduation Year: 1994
- Degree: Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology
- School: University of South Alabama
Michael Kearney holds the Guinness World Record as the youngest college graduate ever, earning his degree at just 10 years and 4 months old in 1994. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Michael was homeschooled by his mother despite being diagnosed with ADHD. He started reading at 10 months old and completed high school in only one year at age 6.
Michael earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology at 10, followed by a Master’s in Chemistry at 14 from Middle Tennessee State University, and another Master’s in Computer Science at 18 from Vanderbilt University. He later earned a doctorate in chemistry from Middle Tennessee as well. Michael describes his education journey simply: “Most people, they get into school when they’re 6, and they get out of school around 22, 23… I just happened to be in college that entire time.”
Today, he works as a chemistry teaching assistant at Middle Tennessee State University. Fun fact: Michael won $1 million on the game show Gold Rush in 2006, bringing him back into the spotlight.
Challenges Faced by Young College Graduates
It’s inspiring to learn about the youngest college graduates and their incredible achievements. While their journeys come with unique challenges, these experiences often help them grow stronger and develop resilience beyond their years. Here are some of the common challenges these young prodigies may face along the way:
- Social differences:
The large age gap can make it challenging for younger students to connect with older classmates, but it also encourages them to develop unique social skills and resilience. While age restrictions may limit some networking events, these students often find creative ways to build meaningful social and professional connections. - Balancing social and academic demands:
While most kids their age are focused on social development, young graduates dedicate their time to advanced academics. This intense focus may come at the cost of typical childhood experiences, but it also helps them build discipline, perseverance, and a strong sense of purpose early on. - High expectations:
Young graduates are often seen as “geniuses,” and while the label may be fitting, it can come with heavy expectations. The pressure to constantly impress or avoid mistakes may feel stressful, but many also use it to build resilience and handle challenges with maturity beyond their years.
Fortunately, the 11 youngest graduates listed above managed to overcome these challenges and have gone on to become highly successful in their respective fields.
How Can I Graduate From High School Faster?
If you’re over 10 years old, you may not be able to qualify for the youngest graduate title, but that shouldn’t stop you from aspiring to speed up your graduation. Wish you could graduate faster? It is possible to speed up your high school education, and there are quite a few students who have graduated after just 3 or 3.5 years at their school. These tips may help you graduate from high school faster:
- Talk to your parents:
Before you start changing your course schedule or making plans to graduate early, it’s important to talk with your parents or guardians. Having their support along the way will help the process go more smoothly. - Talk to your guidance counselor:
Before you can graduate high school in less than four years, you will need approval and assistance creating your schedule. This schedule will need to ensure you meet state requirements to earn your degree, while also fitting your needs. - Consider summer or online courses:
To graduate early, you may need to speed up your schedule by taking classes online or over the summer.
It’s not always recommended that you graduate from high school early. By attending all four years, you have more time to take advanced classes, apply to colleges, and impress those schools by participating in extracurriculars. If you have a very rigorous schedule, you might not have time for those extra experiences. This is a decision that requires careful thought and discussions with your teachers, guidance counselor, and your parents.
How Can I Graduate From College Faster?
Graduating faster from college could save you quite a bit of money in college expenses. While you’ll still have to pay for all your credits, you’ll save elsewhere, like room and board. Here are a few tips for earning your associate’s or bachelor’s degree faster:
- Take college classes in high school:
AP courses and college-level classes are usually offered in high school. Taking advantage of these can help you get a head start on your college career. - Attend the summer and winter semesters:
Colleges often have summer and winter semesters available to students. Plan out your semesters well ahead of time to ensure you’re not running into scheduling conflicts where certain courses are along offered in specific semesters. - Take more credits:
In order to be a full-time student, you need to take 12-15 credits per college semester. You may be able to take more than 15, though schools may limit you per term. Just be prepared to take on the extra workload. - Attend placement tests:
If your school doesn’t offer placement tests during your orientation or freshman year, make sure to talk to your school. It may be possible to take an exam that helps you “opt out” of the class and get credit by proving you already know the material.
In Short…
Young college graduates prove that age really is just a number. While many of them certainly faced unique challenges, they pressed on to pursue their dreams—and achieved them! Even if you weren’t reading before your first birthday, graduating college before driving, or breaking world records, you can be inspired by their motivation and find ways to incorporate their drive in your own life.
Before you go for the next world record, try using College Raptor’s College Match tool to discover individualized college matches, personalized tuition price estimates, your acceptance odds, and potential financial aid from schools around the country.
