Sasha Obama Graduates from USC with Sociology Degree: A Look at Her College Journey
The Obama girls, Malia and Sasha, have grown up right in front of our eyes. On Friday, May 12, 2023, Sasha Obama, the youngest daughter of former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, graduated from the University of Southern California (USC). The whole family-Barack, Michelle, and older sister Malia-attended the graduation ceremony at Allyson Felix Field for USC’s Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences to watch Sasha commemorate her new sociology degree.
The announcement of her name was met with almost universal cheers from the crowd. Sasha beamed as she crossed the stage, as her sister and parents applauded in the audience. Sasha's accomplishment marks the culmination of a unique college journey, one that began at the University of Michigan before she transferred to USC.
A Family Affair: Graduation Day
Barack wore a sleek gray suit, while Michelle looked stunning in a black dress, holding her husband's hand. Malia also glowed in her tan dress and heels. Despite being surrounded by Secret Service agents, the former first family mainly laid low and politely waved to other guests and graduates. As Barack Obama walked out, he congratulated other parents and family members. The Obamas left the ceremony shortly after Sasha crossed the stage.
Michelle Davies, who also graduated Friday from the college, said, “I was so excited to see Obama and Michelle. I wanted a picture [with them] so bad, but then they left early. If I would have gotten a picture, I would have passed out.”
Alfred Chen and his friends rushed to the Dornsife College ceremony after getting a text that the Obamas were there. Chen’s group even posed for a photo with the Dornsife College ceremony behind him, in the hopes that the Obamas might be in the background. Sharon MacDonnell had more luck as she waited for her son to walk across the stage. She was about as close as was possible to the Obamas as they walked out early from the ceremony. She snapped some good photos of the former president. She said as a USC alumna, it was particularly special to see the former first family there.
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From the White House to College Life
Sasha was just 7 years old when her family moved into the White House in 2009, after her dad became the 44th president of the United States in 2008. And now, she's all grown up. In 2019, she graduated from high school in Washington, D.C., two years after her father’s two terms as president.
Sasha Obama began attending Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C. in January 2009. The Obamas' choice of school was perfectly presidential since Sidwell Friends School boasts a string of elite alumni, including former first lady Nancy Reagan and former first daughter Chelsea Clinton. Michelle recalled during an appearance on the "Let's Talk Off Camera" podcast, "I was like, 'You have to keep showing up, even with all the hubbub, because they're little girls and you went to their parent-teacher conferences before this.'"
Michelle and Barack's commitment to their parental obligations still showed itself long after Barack had served his two terms. Sasha Obama became the youngest person to move into the White House since John F. Kennedy Jr.
The Obama sisters, though privileged, are no strangers to hard work. In 2016, 15-year-old Sasha Obama landed a summer job at Nancy's, a seafood restaurant in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. Sasha, who was supposedly in disguise and was using her real name, Natasha, worked in the restaurant's takeout section as a cashier.
A Change of Scenery: Transfer to USC
She initially attended the University of Michigan but transferred to USC in 2022. Sasha transferred to USC from the University of Michigan - which meant she was closer to her sister Malia, who lives in Los Angeles.
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Sasha had an eventful life in college, and initially, there was a buzz surrounding her fall of 2019 admission. When Sasha finally showed up to college and was accompanied by Secret Service agents to orientation, there were mixed reactions to her presence. Some students were excited, while others were indifferent toward the hype. The following year, Sasha was among millions of students who were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and had to learn from home.
Sasha Obama transferred to the University of Southern California sometime before her junior year and became roommates with her sister, Malia Obama. The Obama sisters personalized an apartment by scouting for good deals on yard sales and getting additional items from IKEA, much to Michelle Obama's delight.
Living on the West Coast meant that the Obama sisters were miles away from Barack and Michelle Obama, who appeared to pursue permanent residence in Washington, D.C when they purchased an 8,200-square-foot home after leaving the White House. Sasha and Malia Obama still stayed in touch with their parents through a family group chat, but ultimately, they had to establish their own social circle and adapt to living in Los Angeles.
A Sociology Degree and Future Paths
Sasha earned her undergraduate degree in sociology, according to multiple reports. A degree in sociology can be used for a job in education, social work, counseling, and several other fields. Therefore, Sasha could explore many opportunities in her post-grad life.
Sasha Obama might have finished her education, but her college experience has certainly differed from that of her family. The younger daughter of former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama spent her formative years in the spotlight of the White House.
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Family Legacy and Individual Choices
The family of Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States, is a prominent American family active in law, education, activism and politics. Obama's immediate family circle was the first family of the United States from 2009 to 2017 during Obama's presidency, and are the first such family of African-American descent. His immediate family includes his wife Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha.
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama (born January 17, 1964) is an American lawyer, university administrator, and writer who served as the first lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. She is Barack Obama's wife, and was the first African-American first lady. Barack and Michelle Obama have two daughters: Malia Ann, born July 4, 1998, and Natasha Marian (known as Sasha), born June 10, 2001.
Although the entire Obama family is Ivy League-educated - Michelle and Barack Obama are alumni of Harvard Law School, while Malia Obama also studied at Harvard - Sasha Obama veered from family tradition and attended the University of Michigan as a sociology major.
Michelle graduated from Harvard Law School in 1988, with her husband Barack graduating from the same institution in 1991. Malia was seemingly impressed with what Harvard University had to offer, though she did not attend the Law School. Instead, Malia graduated from the university with a degree in Visual and Environmental Studies in 2021. Unlike Barack, Michelle, and Malia Obama, Sasha did not attend Harvard.
Sasha Obama doesn't appear to be following the career paths of her family. After Barack Obama left Harvard Law School in 1991, he landed a position as the Illinois Executive Director of PROJECT VOTE! in 1992 before earning a job as an associate at the firm of Davis Miner Barnhill & Gallard in 1993. Michelle Obama soon landed a position after her Harvard Law education, joining the Chicago law firm Sidley & Austin. Malia has also been hard at work on her film career, landing a staff writer job on the Amazon Prime series "Swarm" in 2022.
A Mother's Pride and Future Aspirations
During a March 2023 episode of her "The New Light" podcast, Michelle shared, "I'm moving from mom-in-chief to advisor-in-chief," the mom of two said. "That's a lovely thing - to be able to watch my girls fly." However, that doesn't mean the author is not pushing Sasha to get a job. In June 2023, an insider told OK! Magazine, "She's telling Sasha she needs to get out there and start interviewing for positions."
Neither Michelle nor Barack has shared any public photos of Sasha’s graduation, but both of their Mother’s Day posts on Instagram make it clear that they are immensely proud of their daughter. “Being a mom to Malia and Sasha has been the greatest gift of my life,” Michelle wrote with a photo of her daughters as children. “I am forever grateful to my mom for teaching me the importance of courage, empathy, and hard work-lessons that I’ve passed down to my own girls.”
Sasha's Style and Social Life
Much of Sasha's life at USC remained under wraps, but she made several headlines for her fashion choices. Her style has evolved from the preppy chic of her White House days to become more earthy and flowy, with some risqué outfits that exposed her killer body. Since leaving the White House, Sasha has rocked two daring outfits, including a beige crop top, which she paired with a set of baggy jeans that she wore over visible underwear. Similarly, Sasha channeled her inner boho chic when she was pictured around campus in a patterned maxi skirt and a folded blouse that was tucked under a multicolored bralette, all while exposing her pierced navel and flaunting beaded accessories.
In April 2025, Sasha and Malia were pictured celebrating Easter Sunday at a picnic with friends. In one photo, Malia was seen walking beside producer Tiler Wilson while Sasha and an unidentified male companion trailed behind them. That same month, the siblings were photographed at singer Destin Conrad's "Love on Digital" release party, and as usual, Sasha continued her streak of wearing daring outfits. She was pictured in a white crop top that exposed her midriff, which she paired with a set of blue jeans.
Sasha Obama's love life has often remained private, but through the years, a couple of details have found their way to the public. In 2017, Sasha was pictured kissing a guy identified as Matt Metzler at Lollapalooza, and in 2019, she went to prom in the company of an unconfirmed boyfriend named Chris Milton. In a chat with "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," Michelle Obama revealed that both Sasha and Malia Obama were exploring the dating field, saying, "Now they're bringing grown men home. Before it was just, like, a pop band. During a June 2022 appearance on the "Dear Fathers" podcast, Powell confirmed that Sasha and Powell Jr., who is a former basketball player-turned-Hollywood director, had been dating for at least a year.
Maintaining a Sense of Normalcy
Barack and Michelle Obama tried their best to form a community and offer their children a normal life, since the protocol for simple activities like playdates became more complicated. Sasha and Malia's life in the White House also felt more like home because of the presence of their late grandmother, Marian Robinson, who was a trusted guardian whenever Barack and Michelle were busy.
"I wanted them to come home to family," Michelle said in an interview with "CBS Mornings." "There was just parts of the girls' lives that I just knew were going to be okay 'cause mom was there."
Sasha Obama played in a rec basketball league as part of a fourth-grade team dubbed the Vipers. The group took on other teams at a local YMCA in Chevy Chase, Washington, D.C., and in true Obama fashion, every weekend was a family sports affair. The Obamas were also joined by former Vice President Joe Biden's family since Joe's granddaughter, Maisy Biden, was part of the team.
Driving lessons for children living in the White House have evolved over the years. As such, first daughters Malia and Sasha Obama had to learn driving with the help Secret Service agents. The Obama sisters were allowed to drive themselves around after getting their licenses, often with Secret Service agents in sight. Sasha has been pictured driving herself on more than one occasion, and unfortunately, she was once involved in an accident, as Michelle revealed in a conversation with the "Not Gonna Lie" podcast. "One time, Sasha got T-boned," Michelle recalled. "Literally, her car totaled. Some lady T-boned her, and you get this call that Sasha was in an accident, the car was totaled.
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