The Truth About Jim Parsons' Real Life Education

While not as scientifically gifted as the character he played on "The Big Bang Theory" until 2019, Jim Parsons did go to college, and he's got a couple of degrees to show for it. Per Express, Parsons knew from an early age that he wanted to be an actor — just like how Sheldon was set on his chosen field early, starting college at 11 and getting his first PhD at 16. After high school, Parsons went to college and obtained both a bachelor's and a postgraduate degree, from the University of Houston and the University of San Diego respectively. 

After his education was complete, he was able to get his acting career off the ground. Per IMDb, he landed his first regular role in CBS drama "Judging Amy," playing young clerk Rob Holbrook from 2004 to 2005, and of course then got the role of Sheldon in "The Big Bang Theory," which first started on the air on 2006 and ran until 2019. Since 2017, Parsons has provided the voice of the adult Sheldon Cooper on "Young Sheldon," a prequel to "The Big Bang Theory," and has appeared in various other shows in recent years, too.