List of honorary degrees awarded to Bill Cosby explained

American former comedian Bill Cosby has received 72 honorary degrees in recognition of his career in acting and comedy. 62 of these have since been revoked due to his now-overturned conviction on sexual assault charges. These include (listed in order of original awarding of degree):

LocationDateSchoolDegreeStatus
1985 Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) Rescinded 28 September 2015 [1]
1986 Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) [2] Rescinded 22 June 2018 [3]
1986 Doctorate[4]
1987 Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) [5] Rescinded 25 May 2018 [6]
May 1987 Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) Rescinded 14 October 2015 [7]
1989 Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) [8]
20 May 1990 Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) [9] Rescinded 26 April 2018 [10]
Pennsylvania 1990 Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) [11] [12] Rescinded 1 February 2018 [13]
1990 Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) Rescinded 23 June 2017 [14] [15] [16]
20 November 1990 Rust CollegeDoctorate [17]
Pennsylvania 1991 Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) Rescinded 27 April 2018 [18]
Pennsylvania 1992 Doctorate Rescinded 12 November 2015 [19]
1992 Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) Rescinded 18 November 2015 [20]
California 1992 Occidental CollegeDoctorate Rescinded 12 December 2015 [21]
1992 Doctor of Performing Arts Rescinded 2 May 2018 [22]
Spring 1992 DoctorateRescinded 22 June 2018 [23]
1993 Master of Arts (MA) Rescinded 8 August 2018 [24]
May 1994 Doctorate Rescinded 12 November 2015 [25]
Pennsylvania 1995 Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) Rescinded 23 October 2015 [26]
Pennsylvania 1995 Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) Rescinded 20 November 2015 [27] [28]
20 May 1995 Doctor of Arts (D.Arts) Rescinded 31 May 2018 [29]
1 June 1995 Doctorate [30] Rescinded 23 November 2015 [31]
1996 Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) [32] Rescinded 27 April 2018 [33]
Pennsylvania May 1996 Doctorate Rescinded 28 April 2018 [34]
18 May 1996 Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) [35] [36] Rescinded 29 June 2016 [37]
Pennsylvania May 1996 Doctorate Rescinded 28 April 2018
Pennsylvania 1997 DoctorateRescinded 4 May 2018 [38]
District of Columbia 1997 Doctor of Humanities[39] Rescinded 11 January 2016 [40] [41]
1997 Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) [42] Rescinded 18 June 2018 [43]
New York 1997 Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) Rescinded 21 June 2018 [44]
California 8 May 1998 Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) [45] Rescinded 1 May 2018 [46]
Virginia 9 May 1998 Doctorate [47]
Maryland 17 May 1998 Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) [48] Rescinded 22 June 2018 [49]
California 1998 Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) Rescinded (unannounced date)[50]
May 1999 Doctorate [51] Rescinded 22 June 2018 [52]
New York 22 May 1999 Doctorate [53] Rescinded 1 October 2016 [54]
Massachusetts 1999 Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) Rescinded 17 October 2015 [55] [56]
Massachusetts 2000 Doctor of Arts (D.Arts) Rescinded 15 October 2015 [57]
Pennsylvania May 2000 Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) Rescinded 19 October 2015 [58]
New York 2000 Doctorate [59] Rescinded 2 May 2018 [60]
South Carolina 2000 Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) Rescinded 18 May 2018 [61]
New York 2001 Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) Rescinded 24 September 2015 [62] [63]
Maryland 2001 Doctorate Rescinded 15 October 2015[64]
2001 Doctor of Education (D.Ed.) Rescinded 6 April 2018 [65]
Ohio 2001 Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) [66] Rescinded 8 May 2018 [67]
Delaware 2001 Doctorate [68]
New York 12 May 2001 Doctorate [69] Rescinded 18 May 2018 [70]
May 2002 Doctorate [71] Rescinded 23 October 2015 [72]
Massachusetts 2002 Doctorate [73] Rescinded 25 October 2015 [74]
Pennsylvania 2002 Doctorate Rescinded 13 November 2015 [75]
Pennsylvania May 2002 Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) [76] Rescinded 6 February 2016 [77] [78]
New York 2002 Doctorate Rescinded 28 April 2018 [79]
New York 2002 Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) [80] Rescinded 28 April 2018
19 May 2003 Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) [81] [82] Rescinded 30 May 2018 [83]
Connecticut 26 May 2003 Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) [84] [85] Rescinded 1 May 2018 [86]
Georgia 2003 Doctorate [87]
2003 Doctorate [88]
Virginia 2003 Doctorate [89]
Texas 4 September 2003 Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) [90] Rescinded 8 October 2015 [91]
Pennsylvania 2003 Doctorate [92] Rescinded 30 April 2018 [93]
Massachusetts 8 May 2004 Doctor of Music (D.Mus.) [94] [95] Rescinded 24 March 2016 [96] [97]
Maryland 2004 Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) [98] Rescinded 26 April 2018 [99]
Pennsylvania May 2004 Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) Rescinded 2 October 2015 [100]
Pennsylvania 20 May 2007 Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) [101] Rescinded 26 April 2018 [102]
North Carolina 2008 Rescinded 27 April 2018 [103]
Virginia 5 December 2008 Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) [104] Rescinded 7 December 2018 [105]
Ohio 1 May 2010 Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) [106] Rescinded 4 December 2015 [107]
7 May 2011 Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) [108]
California 18 May 2012 Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) Rescinded 25 September 2015 [109] [110]
Texas 5 May 2013 Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) [111]
19 May 2013 Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) Rescinded 24 September 2015 [112] [113]
Maryland 21 May 2013 Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) [114] Rescinded 22 June 2018
Massachusetts 18 May 2014 Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) Rescinded 10 December 2015 [115]

Notes and References

  1. News: Brown revokes Bill Cosby's honorary degree. September 29, 2015. Brown Daily Herald. September 28, 2015.
  2. News: High Fees for Guest Lecturers Stir Argument at Carolina University. The New York Times. 12 November 1986. May 4, 2018. Schmidt. William E..
  3. News: USC joins other colleges in revoking Bill Cosby's honorary degree. The State. June 22, 2018.
  4. Web site: Spelman College Honorary Degree Recipients List 1977 to Present as of July 2018. July 2018. Spelman College Board of Trustees. February 18, 2019.
  5. Web site: Past Honorary Degree Recipients, Reunion & Commencement - Wesleyan University. wesleyan.edu.
  6. Web site: Wesleyan University revokes Bill Cosby's honorary degree. May 25, 2018.
  7. News: Lehigh rescinds Bill Cosby's honorary degree. February 5, 2016. The Brown and White. October 15, 2015.
  8. Web site: Recipients of Honorary Degrees (By Year) - Office of the Secretary - Howard University . Howard.edu . April 27, 2018.
  9. Web site: Honorary Degree Recipients. University of Notre Dame. 2016. April 30, 2018.
  10. Statement from Father Jenkins rescinding Notre Dame's 1990 honorary degree to Bill Cosby. Notre Dame News.
  11. Web site: Commencement: Honorary Degrees . University of Pennsylvania . September 19, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070820041441/http://www.upenn.edu/commencement/hist/hondegalph.html . August 20, 2007.
  12. Web site: Commencement: Speakers Since 1938 . University of Pennsylvania . September 19, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090710043206/http://www.upenn.edu/commencement/hist/speakers38.html . July 10, 2009.
  13. News: Snyder. Susan. University of Pennsylvania strips Steve Wynn, Bill Cosby of honors. February 1, 2018. The Philadelphia Inquirer. February 1, 2018.
  14. News: Mizzou Revokes Honorary Degree Awarded to Cosby Inside Higher Ed. July 4, 2017.
  15. News: Bill Cosby loses honorary degree from University of Missouri after mistrial. USA TODAY. July 4, 2017. en.
  16. News: University of Missouri revokes Cosby's honorary degree. https://web.archive.org/web/20170623191623/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/university-of-missouri-revokes-cosbys-honorary-degree/2017/06/23/9375f216-582f-11e7-840b-512026319da7_story.html. dead. June 23, 2017. June 23, 2017. The Washington Post. July 4, 2017. Associated Press. en-US. 0190-8286.
  17. Web site: Short Takes: Cosby Passes On His Doctorate. November 20, 1990. LA Times.
  18. News: Temple University rescinds Bill Cosby's honorary degree . Levenson . Eric . April 27, 2018 . CNN . April 27, 2018.
  19. Web site: Drexel Has Revoked Bill Cosby's Honorary Degree | Office of the President | Drexel University . Drexel.edu . November 12, 2015 . April 27, 2018.
  20. Web site: Bill Cosby's Honorary Degree at Cal Poly Pomona Revoked . November 20, 2015.
  21. Web site: Occidental College is the latest to revoke Cosby honorary degree. December 15, 2015. Los Angeles Times. December 15, 2015.
  22. News: Colby College Rescinds Bill Cosby's Honorary Degree. Jacqueline. Arma. Associated Press. May 3, 2018. May 3, 2018.
  23. Web site: Condon. Christine. Brennan. Leah. UMD wants to rescind Bill Cosby's honorary degree. The Diamondback. May 10, 2018. June 27, 2018.
  24. News: William & Mary rescinds Bill Cosby's honorary degree. WY Daily Staff. August 10, 2018.
  25. Web site: University revokes Bill Cosby's honorary degree | Bryant University . Bryant.edu . November 13, 2015 . April 27, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180427183816/https://www.bryant.edu/news/news-articles/2015/11/12/university-revokes-bill-cosbys-honorary-degree/ . April 27, 2018 . dead .
  26. Web site: Muhlenberg College rescinds Cosby honorary degree. The Inquirer . October 27, 2015.
  27. Web site: Past Speakers and Honorary Degree Recipients . May 20, 2014.
  28. News: Swarthmore Rescinds Bill Cosby's Honorary Degree. July 20, 2016. Swarthmore College: News and Events. December 7, 2015.
  29. Web site: Honorary Degrees: William (Bill) H. Cosby, Jr. . Southern Methodist University . 2021-05-28.
  30. Web site: Bill Cosby Received an Honory [sic] Degree from John Jay College]. https://web.archive.org/web/20190527104633/https://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/news-photo/bill-cosby-raises-his-hat-to-the-audience-during-the-news-photo/918188448. 27 May 2019.
  31. Web site: CUNY trustees to revoke Bill Cosby's honorary degree. Politico.
  32. Web site: FB99 Honorary Degree Recipients. Boston College. 1999. April 30, 2018.
  33. Web site: Boston College Rescinds Bill Cosby's Honorary Degree. Boston College. April 27, 2018. April 30, 2018.
  34. Web site: Lafayette College revokes Bill Cosby's honorary degree. Sara. Satullo. LehighValleyLive. April 28, 2018. April 28, 2018.
  35. Web site: May 18, 1996 . Commencement: Speakers . University of Connecticut . August 12, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120330161341/http://commencement.uconn.edu/history/speakers/1990s.html . 30 March 2012 . dead .
  36. Web site: May 18, 1996 . Commencement: Honorary Degrees . University of Connecticut . August 12, 2011.
  37. News: UConn Revokes Bill Cosby's Honorary Degree. July 20, 2016. Hartford Courant. June 29, 2016.
  38. Web site: Gettysburg College rescinds Bill Cosby's honorary degree. EveningSun . May 7, 2018.
  39. Web site: Honorary Degree Recipients - Office of the Provost - The George Washington University. provost.gwu.edu.
  40. Web site: George Washington University rescinds Bill Cosby's honorary degree. Susan. Svrluga. January 11, 2016. www.washingtonpost.com.
  41. Web site: Update from President Knapp on Sexual Assault. GW Today. The George Washington University. January 11, 2016.
  42. Web site: Northwestern remains silent on Bill Cosby's 1997 honors. Peter. Kotecki. dailynorthwestern.com. 9 October 2015 .
  43. Web site: Northwestern revokes honorary degree given to Bill Cosby. Chicago Tribune. June 18, 2018.
  44. Web site: NYU's Board of Trustees Revokes Bill Cosby's Honorary Degree. Jackson. Sarah. nyunews.com. 21 June 2018 .
  45. Web site: May 8, 1998 . A Joyous Day of Academic Celebration – USC's 115th Commencement, May 8, 1998 . USC News . March 27, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120816100615/http://www.usc.edu/uscnews/stories/3677.html . August 16, 2012 .
  46. Web site: USC revokes Bill Cosby's honorary degree after assault conviction. Karan. Nevatia. Daily Trojan. May 1, 2018. May 2, 2018.
  47. Web site: Honorary degrees will go to Cosby, alumnus Mark Strome and local journalist George Tucker . Ww2.odu.edu . April 27, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180427183750/http://ww2.odu.edu/ao/instadv/archive/issue17/getready.htm . April 27, 2018 . dead .
  48. News: Ryan. Meg. Bill Cosby's honorary degrees in crosshairs of UMES, other schools. May 16, 2018. The Daily Times (Salisbury).
  49. Web site: Curtis. Tim. USM takes back honorary degrees awarded to Bill Cosby. Daily Record (Maryland). June 22, 2018. June 22, 2018.
  50. News: How many stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame belong on the walk of shame?. CNN. March 22, 2020.
  51. Web site: Claflin University has no plans to rescind Bill Cosby's honorary degree.
  52. News: Claflin University Board of Trustees revokes celebrity Bill Cosby's honorary degree. TD. June 22, 2018.
  53. Web site: May 17, 1999 . Colgate Names Top Graduates . Colgate University . April 30, 2018.
  54. Web site: October 1, 2016 . Message From the Chair . Colgate University . October 1, 2016.
  55. Web site: Amherst College Rescinds Bill Cosby's Honorary Degree. October 19, 2015.
  56. Web site: Amherst Latest to Rescind Cosby Degree - Inside Higher Ed.
  57. News: October 15, 2015 . Tufts University Revokes Bill Cosby's Honorary Degree . CBS Boston . October 15, 2015.
  58. Web site: F&M revokes Bill Cosby's honorary degree | Local News . lancasteronline.com . October 19, 2015 . April 27, 2018.
  59. Web site: SUNY Honorary Degrees Awarded Through FIT | Fashion Institute of Technology . Fitnyc.edu . December 4, 2017 . April 27, 2018.
  60. Web site: SUNY Revokes Honorary Degrees to Bill Cosby and James Levine. Lisa. Lockwood. WWD. May 3, 2018. May 3, 2018.
  61. Web site: MUSC Board of Trustees rescinds honorary degree granted to Bill Cosby. The Post & Courier . May 18, 2018 . May 18, 2018 .
  62. Web site: Sanicola . Laura . September 24, 2015 . Another hit for Cosby: Fordham rescinds honorary degree . USA TODAY College . September 25, 2015.
  63. News: Gregorian . Dareh . September 24, 2015 . Fordham revokes Bill Cosby's honorary degree . Daily News . New York . September 25, 2015.
  64. News: October 15, 2015 . Baltimore's Goucher College Revokes Bill Cosby's Honorary Degree . WBOC 16. October 15, 2015.
  65. Web site: Ohio State Officials Revoke Bill Cosby's Honorary Degree. Nick. Evans. 6 April 2018 .
  66. Web site: Recipients, Home | University of Cincinnati, University of Cincinnati . Uc.edu . April 27, 2018.
  67. Web site: UC votes to strip Bill Cosby of his honorary degree . 7 May 2018 . May 8, 2018.
  68. Web site: Delaware State University Archives and Special Collections: Honorary Degrees . Delaware State University . 2018-05-09 . 2021-05-28.
  69. Web site: Commencement Speakers & Honorary Degree Recipients 2000-2009 | Institute Archives and Special Collections.
  70. Web site: RPI rescinds Bill Cosby's honorary degree. The Post & Courier . May 18, 2018 . May 21, 2018 .
  71. Web site: Bill Cosby Commencement Speech 2002 . May 2002 . Drew University . March 29, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402143215/https://vimeo.com/88475482 . April 2, 2015 .
  72. News: N.J. college revokes Bill Cosby's honorary degree . July 30, 2016 . Hartford Courant. November 16, 2015.
  73. Web site: Honorary Degree Recipients and Commencement Speakers | Springfield College . Springfield.edu . April 27, 2018.
  74. Web site: Logue. Josh. Springfield College revokes Bill Cosby's honorary doctorate. masslive.com. 26 October 2015 . October 26, 2015.
  75. Web site: Debra . Erdley . Pitt rescinds honorary degree to Bill Cosby . TribLIVE . November 13, 2015 . April 27, 2018.
  76. Web site: July 7, 2009 . Honorary Degree Recipients . Haverford College . September 19, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091008122800/http://www.haverford.edu/commencement/files/honorarydegrees.pdf . October 8, 2009 . dead .
  77. Web site: Haverford College rescinds Cosby's degree . February 28, 2016.
  78. Web site: HC Board: Cosby Degree Rescinded.
  79. Web site: Bill Cosby's honorary degree from FIT may be rescinded . May 2018 . May 1, 2018.
  80. Web site: Juilliard Honorary Degree Recipients . April 27, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180427115934/https://www.juilliard.edu/sites/default/files/JuilliardHonoraryDegreeRecipients1987-2017.pdf . April 27, 2018 . dead .
  81. Web site: Honorary Degrees - Faculty Governance.
  82. Web site: William Henry Cosby Jr. University of North Carolina. 2003. April 30, 2018.
  83. Web site: UNC Board of Trustees decide to revoke Bill Cosby's honorary degree. May 30, 2018.
  84. June 6, 2003 . Honorary Degrees . Yale Bulletin and Calendar . 31 . 31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090410064659/http://www.yale.edu/opa/arc-ybc/v31.n31/story103.html . dead . April 10, 2009 . September 19, 2009 .
  85. Web site: Honorary Degrees Since 1702 - Office of the Secretary and Vice President for Student Life. secretary.yale.edu.
  86. Web site: Yale rescinds honorary degree given to Bill Cosby. Karma. Allen. ABC NEWS. May 1, 2018. May 2, 2018.
  87. Web site: Georgia college considers rescinding honorary degree given to Bill Cosby; will vote next week . October 17, 2015 . Star Tribune . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160103025717/http://www.startribune.com/ga-college-considers-revoking-bill-cosby-s-honorary-degree/333587851/ . January 3, 2016 .
  88. Web site: College Awards Honorary Degree to Bill Cosby. Tribal College Journal of American Indian Higher Education. 15 August 2003 . Tribal College Journal of American Indian Higher Education. May 7, 2018.
  89. Web site: Bill Cosby to Address Hampton University Class of 2011 : Hampton University News . News.hamptonu.edu . March 21, 2011 . April 27, 2018.
  90. Web site: Bill Cosby Lifts Baylor, Waco Spirits At "Pep Rally". September 5, 2003. Baylor University . September 19, 2009.
  91. News: Baylor rescinds honorary doctorate given to Bill Cosby in 2003 . WacoTrib.com . Stottlemyre . Matthew . October 9, 2015.
  92. Web site: Honorary Degrees. West Chester University of Pennsylvania. West Chester University of Pennsylvania. May 1, 2018.
  93. Web site: Bill Cosby's honorary degree rescinded after guilty verdict. 2018-04-30. The Quad. en. 2019-02-19.
  94. Retiring College President Lee Eliot Berk and Bill Cosby Honored at Berklee College of Music's 2004 Commencement. Berklee College of Music. May 8, 2004. September 19, 2009.
  95. Web site: Three Score: The Berklee 60th Anniversary Concert . January 28, 2006 . Berklee College of Music . September 19, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090625230551/http://berklee.edu/events/2006/01/60th.html . June 25, 2009 .
  96. Web site: Bill Cosby's Honorary Degree.
  97. News: 42 Universities on the Status of Bill Cosby's Honorary Degrees. June 22, 2018. Vulture.com. June 19, 2018.
  98. Web site: Honorary Degrees Awarded | Johns Hopkins University Commencement . Commencement.jhu.edu . April 27, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180221112951/https://commencement.jhu.edu/our-history/honorary-degrees-awarded/ . 21 February 2018 . dead .
  99. Web site: Johns Hopkins revokes Bill Cosby's honorary degree following guilty verdict. Christina. Tkacik.
  100. News: Wilkes University rescinds Cosby's honorary degree. October 7, 2015. Citizens Voice. October 7, 2015.
  101. Web site: Commencement 2007: Celebrating Honors and Achievements. Carnegie Mellon University. September 19, 2009.
  102. Web site: Madasyn . Czebiniak . Carnegie Mellon revokes Cosby's honorary degree after guilty verdict . TribLIVE . April 27, 2018.
  103. News: Bill Cosby's honorary degree revoked by North Carolina university. Jane. Stancill. Charlotte Observer. April 27, 2018. April 30, 2018.
  104. Web site: VCU 40th Anniversary Events . Virginia Commonwealth University . September 19, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100225155155/http://www.40th.vcu.edu/events/billcosby.html . February 25, 2010 .
  105. Web site: VCU rescinds Bill Cosby's honorary doctoral degree. Tamia. Mallory. nbc12.com. 12 December 2018 .
  106. Web site: Oberlin College gives Cosbys, Stevie Wonder honorary doctorates. October 12, 2015.
  107. News: Oberlin College rescinds honorary degree awarded Bill Cosby . December 2015. New York Daily News . December 28, 2015.
  108. News: Jeremy . Gray . Should Talladega, Miles colleges rescind Bill Cosby's honorary degrees? . al.com . January 13, 2019.
  109. Web site: Fernandez . Lisa . University of San Francisco Rescinds Bill Cosby Honorary Degree . NBC Bay Area . September 30, 2015 . April 27, 2018.
  110. News: University of San Francisco Rescinds Bill Cosby Honorary Degree. October 1, 2015. NBC BAY AREA. September 30, 2015.
  111. News: 'Speak out,' Bill Cosby tells Paul Quinn College graduates . The Dallas Morning News . May 5, 2013 . registration.
  112. Web site: Bill Cosby is Marquette University's spring Commencement speaker . https://web.archive.org/web/20130905041229/http://www.marquette.edu/omc/newscenter/recent.php?subaction=showfull&id=1368106200&archive= . dead . September 5, 2013 . Marquette University Office of Marketing and Communication . May 20, 2013 .
  113. Web site: Marquette University rescinds Bill Cosby's honorary degree. jsonline.com.
  114. News: Bill Cosby to deliver University of Baltimore commencement address. March 14, 2013. Rosen. Jill. Baltimore Sun. August 14, 2018.
  115. Web site: Boston University rescinds Bill Cosby's honorary degree. December 14, 2015. Boston Globe. December 14, 2015.