Full Breakdown
Billie Jean King Earns History Degree at 82, Capping Decades of Trailblazing
5/15/2026, 4:48:55 AM
Historic Graduation Milestone
On May 18, 2026, 82-year-old Billie Jean King walked across the stage at Cal State LA to receive a BA in History. She first attended the university from 1961 to 1964 before leaving for a tennis career. A 2025 transcript review showed she had completed three of the four required years, prompting her return to finish coursework.
Background & Context
As a freshman, King won Wimbledon’s women’s doubles title at 17. She later amassed 39 Grand Slam championships, founded the Women’s Tennis Association in 1973, and secured equal prize money for women at the U.S. Open. After retiring, she completed courses on LGBT political history, Title IX, and Latin American women’s history, and taught incarcerated students through Cal State LA’s Prison Graduation Initiative.
Key Figures & Support
Marjorie Gantman, managing director of BJK Enterprises, identified the missing credit hour that enabled King’s return. Cal State LA’s History Department delivered the online curriculum, and the Prison Graduation Initiative connected her with incarcerated students in California’s prisons.
Data Snapshot
King graduates at 82 after completing three of four required years. She holds 39 Grand Slam titles (12 singles, 16 women’s doubles, 11 mixed doubles). Return coursework covered LGBT political history, Title IX, and Latin American women’s history. Honors include the Presidential Medal of Freedom and founding the Women’s Tennis Association.
Official Statements & Responses
King called the ceremony “thrilling.” She said earning a degree ranks alongside her athletic achievements and that she is the first in her immediate family to graduate, a milestone she attributes to her parents’ emphasis on education. King also highlighted delivering a commencement speech to the Prison Graduation Initiative’s inaugural class and moving her tassel from the right to the left side in memory of her late parents.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Graduating, it’s just thrilling. Really,” — Billie Jean King
- “I’m thrilled because of the way the other people have responded to this.” — Billie Jean King
- “It's like a match. You're shaking hands at net, you know that feeling that it's done. You did your best win or lose,” — Billie Jean King
Impact & Next Steps
King’s graduation shows education is attainable at any age and reinforces her advocacy for gender equality and learning access. She will address the graduating class and plans to continue supporting initiatives that link education with social justice, including further work with incarcerated-student programs.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All consulted sources agree on the timeline, coursework, and statements; no contradictory information was identified. Specific details such as the exact GPA earned and the precise credit-hour requirement for the degree were not disclosed.
