NBA legend and Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal is expanding his off-court legacy with the launch of Shaq Scholars, a bold new initiative designed to support and empower aspiring entrepreneurs through full scholarships to Campus, an innovative two-year college program tailored for driven students seeking an affordable, high-quality education.
The program, officially open for applications for its Fall 2025 cohort, will award up to five full-ride scholarships to selected students. Those chosen will join Campus’s associate degree program while also participating in Shaq Scholars-exclusive programming that includes immersive leadership experiences, virtual business training, and one-on-one mentorship opportunities. The goal: to develop not just students, but future leaders who can drive change in business and beyond.
“When I was coming up, I had people who believed in me and gave me the tools to succeed,” O’Neal said in a statement. “Now, I want to do the same for the next generation. Shaq Scholars is about giving young people the education, skills, and support they need to build something great without going into debt.”
Shaquille O’Neal earned his Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) in 2012 from Barry University in Miami, Florida.
While he’s often called “Dr. Shaq” in a lighthearted way, the degree was real and focused on human resource development. He pursued it after already earning his bachelor’s degree from LSU in 2000 (to fulfill a promise to his mother) and later his MBA from the University of Phoenix.
A New Vision for College
Campus, the educational partner behind Shaq Scholars, is a fully accredited two-year college that blends live online instruction with in-person immersions and comprehensive student support. Professors teaching Campus courses also hold positions at institutions like Stanford, UCLA, and Princeton, delivering Ivy League-level instruction through an accessible online platform.
Unlike traditional college models, Campus is designed to eliminate the burden of student debt, combining affordable tuition with federal financial aid options and programs like Shaq Scholars that cover all remaining costs, including tuition, laptops, and travel.
The program promises a high-touch learning environment, where students not only attend live classes online, but also benefit from on-demand tutoring, personal success coaching, and peer support. Upon completion, students can transfer to top-tier partner schools, including Arizona State University and Butler University, to pursue their bachelor’s degrees.
The numbers are staggering: U.S. students and graduates owe more than $1.7 trillion in student loan debt, a figure that continues to climb with each academic year. For many young people, the dream of higher education comes with a heavy financial burden that can take decades to repay, impacting not just personal finances, but life milestones like buying a home, starting a business, or saving for retirement.
Campus, a new kind of two-year college, says it wants to help stop the cycle. By rethinking the traditional cost structure of higher education, the school aims to “stem the bleeding” and make quality learning accessible without the crippling price tag.
Tuition at Campus is just over $7,000 per year, a fraction of the national average, which hovers around $36,000 annually for private institutions. The school offers live online classes taught by professors from leading universities such as Stanford, UCLA, and Princeton, alongside wraparound support like tutoring, personal success coaching, and free technology for those who need it.
With programs like Shaq Scholars, founded by NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal to fully cover tuition for select students. Campus is positioning itself as a viable path for ambitious learners to graduate debt-free. In an era where student loans have become a generational weight, their model offers something increasingly rare: a future without decades of financial baggage.
Beyond the Degree: Building Future Leaders
The Shaq Scholars program is more than a scholarship, it’s a leadership incubator. Participants will take part in both virtual and in-person experiences that are designed to develop business acumen, expand their networks, and foster personal growth. Programming will be led by some of the country’s most respected educators and thought leaders.
Among those involved are educators such as Alyssa Lowery, Brandon Middleton, Karima Mariama-Arthur, Reginald Duhé, Steven Kelts, and Lee-Sean Huang, who teach at institutions across the Ivy League and other top U.S. universities. Their expertise spans law, public policy, entrepreneurship, and design thinking, offering a multidisciplinary approach to leadership education.
Backing the vision are some of the brightest minds in technology and innovation, including Sam Altman (CEO of OpenAI), Jason Citron (CEO of Discord), Dylan Field (CEO of Figma), and Akshay Kothari (COO of Notion), all of whom have endorsed the program and its mission.
Who Can Apply?
To qualify for the Shaq Scholars program, applicants must first be accepted into a Campus associate degree program and be eligible to enroll in the Fall 2025 cohort. They must be 18 or older by the time of enrollment.
The application process includes:
- Submitting the Campus application and Shaq Scholars application by September 1, 2025
- Completing the 2025–26 FAFSA to determine federal aid eligibility
- Creating a short video submission
- Participating in a finalist interview with Campus staff (if selected)
Those accepted into the Shaq Scholars program will receive a debt-free education, with zero out-of-pocket tuition costs, and full coverage for any travel associated with the program’s immersive components. Applications are due by Friday, September 12, with classes beginning Monday, October 6.
Empowering Ambition
At its core, Shaq Scholars is a call to action for ambitious young people, particularly those for whom traditional higher education paths may seem financially out of reach. It represents a rare opportunity: world-class instruction, full support, and a powerful network of mentors and peers, all backed by one of the most recognizable figures in sports and business.
For Shaquille O’Neal, it’s about more than giving back, it’s about building forward.
“This is your shot,” O’Neal said. “We’re building future CEOs, inventors, community leaders, and the ones who are going to change the game.”
Learn more and apply at Shaq Scholars before September 1.
For updates and interviews with Shaq Scholars, follow @CampusScholars on social media. Stay tuned to AcousticMD for more updates
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