Billie Jean King graduated from California State University, Los Angeles with a bachelor's degree in history on May 18, 2026, at age 82 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. She initially enrolled in college in either 1961 or 1964 but left to pursue her tennis career, resulting in a delay of 62 to 65 years before completing her degree [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
King returned to school decades later and completed her remaining coursework through remote learning. Her studies focused on LGBTQ political history and Latin American women and gender history, areas she became passionate about [2, 3, 4, 5]. Known for winning 39 Grand Slam titles across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, King remains an iconic figure in tennis [1, 2, 3, 4]. She famously defeated Bobby Riggs in the celebrated 1973 "Battle of the Sexes" match, a landmark for gender equality in sports [1, 2, 3, 4].
At the graduation ceremony, which included roughly 6,000 graduates, King wore black academic regalia accentuated by pink glasses and blue shoes. She raised a cheer in Spanish and encouraged fellow graduates to pursue their goals regardless of age or ability, saying, "無論幾歲、無論能力如何，只要想做，就去追求，永遠不嫌晚" (No matter your age or ability, if you want to do it, go after it, it's never too late) [2, 3, 4, 5].
King expressed that earning her degree was a long-held personal goal and lifelong regret she had not finished sooner. She noted, "別說我畢業了，我還沒拿到學位" (Don’t just say I graduated, I still haven’t received my degree) and joked, "Yeah baby, only 61 years!" marking the gap since her initial enrollment [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. She is the first in her immediate family to graduate college; her parents and brother are deceased and were unable to attend [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
King’s commitment to equality continues beyond sports. Reflecting on her journey, she said, "I asked myself, where is everybody else? From that day forward, I committed my life to equality and inclusion for all" [1].
The ceremony concludes King’s academic journey decades after she first set foot on campus. Her completion highlights a rare late-life achievement in education more than six decades after she started her studies.
