Lil Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr., is one of the most iconic artists of all time and doesn’t need formal schooling. It’s widely known that he took psychology classes at the University of Houston in 2005.
Despite interviews and various sources suggesting that Lil Wayne would attend the University of Houston, he didn’t receive an honors degree from the institution in 2008. This misconception has appeared on websites like Revolt, AllHipHop, The List, and BestAccreditedColleges.
The issue became apparent during my research on rappers with college degrees, and I found Lil Wayne mentioned multiple times.
However, I couldn’t locate any trustworthy sources confirming Lil Wayne’s degree. After speaking with someone at the University of Houston, they confirmed that the rapper never graduated.
Honorary degrees are frequently awarded to rappers. When artists receive these honors, universities typically issue press releases, and local media outlets report on it. Examples include Missy Elliot, Dizzee Rascal, and LL Cool J.
For Lil Wayne, however, there are no press releases or news coverage. My thorough search turned up nothing.
Given Lil Wayne’s fame, it would be logical for a university to promote his graduation on their website or through other outlets.
In addition to the lack of media coverage, reputable publications rarely discuss Lil Wayne’s alleged degree.
The Daily Cougar, a student-run newspaper at the University of Houston, did mention Lil Wayne in 2015, noting that he was a guest at the 2016 commencement. It’s well-known, though, that Lil Wayne never completed college.
The article also highlights that Jim Nantz, another commencement speaker, received an honorary degree in 2001. There is no such mention of Lil Wayne receiving this type of honor.
Finally, records from the University of Houston confirm that no honorary degrees were awarded in 2008.
While it’s theoretically possible that the university could have given non-doctoral degrees without publicizing them, this wasn’t the case here.
When I requested the list of special degrees from the University of Houston, they promptly responded, confirming the records. It’s clear that Lil Wayne was never awarded an honorary degree by the institution.
