International music icon Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs superstar tight end Travis Kelce make up one of the world’s greatest power couples. Swift just finished her record-breaking “Eras Tour,” and Kelce is in the midst of a 12-1 NFL season with the reigning Super Bowl-champion Chiefs.
But before rising to superstardom in their respective fields, Swift and Kelce took two very distinct academic journeys.
As a teenager pursuing her music dreams in Hendersonville, Tennessee, Swift spent her first two years at Hendersonville High School. She then transferred to Aaron Academy, which better accommodated home schooling around her busy touring schedule.
Swift finished her high school career with a 4.0 GPA, completing her junior and senior year course work in just 12 months.
Kelce attended Cleveland Heights High School alongside his older brother, Jason. He then followed in his older brother’s footsteps, attending the University of Cincinnati for his collegiate football career.
Unlike Swift, Kelce’s road was muddled with academic struggles, off-field issues and suspensions.
In the spring semester before his final season with the Bearcats, Kelce was suspended for the second time for violation of team policy. After some convincing from Jason, Cincinnati head coach Butch Jones set some parameters for Travis to return to the team.
He needed to record at least a 3.0 GPA.
Kelce finished that semester with a 3.2 GPA and was allowed to rejoin the team.
“He jokes about it to this day – that he never had a 3.0 in his life,” Jones said, via a story from The Kansas City Star in 2023.
Kelce returned to school and earned a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree in 2022. Travis and Jason both received their diplomas in a special ceremony at the University of Cincinnati this past spring.
Swift celebrated her 35th birthday on Friday. Kelce, also 35, is the Chiefs’ nominee for the 2024 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
Kelce and the Chiefs will face off against the Cleveland Browns in a Week 15 matchup on Sunday afternoon.
