It’s no surprise that many anime series are set in modern-day high schools as high school is a setting that most anime fans can relate to. It also helps that most anime series are targeted towards a high-school-aged demographic. The characters in these series run the gamut of being the book-smart model senpai to being the goofball that can barely pass any of their classes.
However, college is a whole different matter. Anywhere in the world, college requires more than just test-taking skills. Succeeding at college means having good personal management skills when it comes to schedules, study time, note-taking, figuring out a suitable major, and more. Which of these anime students would be able to graduate college, and which wouldn’t?
10 WOULD GRADUATE: Ichigo Kurosaki, A Model Student Despite His Attitude (Bleach)
Ichigo Kurosaki has many strengths, from his street smarts to his mighty zanpakuto and his boundless confidence and courage. He also has book smarts, which came as a surprise to some people, including his friend Keigo Asano. Acting like a punk doesn’t necessarily mean being a total doofus.
It may be Uryu Ishida who gets the best grades in the class, but Ichigo isn’t far behind him. After all, Ichigo has remarkable discipline and willpower to get solid scores on any test. He could do the same in college, too, and it helps that he’s extremely self-sufficient as self-sufficiency is vital for college success.
9 WOULD DROP OUT: Okuyasu Nijimura, Wielder Of The Hand (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)
During the events of Diamond is Unbreakable, Okuyasu Nijimura was introduced as an antagonist early on, along with his brother Keicho. But Okuyasu is not evil; he had been manipulated, and then he formed a genuine friendship with Josuke Higashikata. Okuyasu has some street smarts, just like Josuke, but his academic performance isn’t so great. He rarely talks or cares about school, and he’s more of a follower than a leader. Okuyasu would grow frustrated with college and drop out to try a different pursuit. Nothing wrong with that; college isn’t for everyone.
8 WOULD GRADUATE: Misaki Ayuzawa, The Hardworking Student President (Maid-Sama!)
Not all ace students are natural geniuses, but they don’t have to be. Even students with average abilities, such as Misaki Ayuzawa, can succeed if they simply work hard and learn some discipline. Misaki would know a thing or two about that.
Misaki studies hard to maintain her position at the top of the charts, and she is a highly self-sufficient and responsible person. In the original story, she really did go to college and graduate, and if she went back to get another degree, it would prove easy.
7 WOULD DROP OUT: Aqua, The Hapless Goddess (Konosuba)
Aqua is a powerful goddess who excels at purifying water, dispelling curses, and destroying the undead. However, her skills are rather limited otherwise. She was tricked into becoming a humble adventurer, and it became abundantly clear that Aqua is not used to hard work at all. In the original anime, Aqua is bad with money and makes reckless and short-sighted decisions as she’s not used to working to get what she wants. At college, Aqua would throw a few tantrums before losing patience with everything and dropping out.
6 WOULD GRADUATE: Kyo Sohma, The Cat Zodiac Member (Fruits Basket)
Kyo Sohma is the hot-headed cousin of Yuki Sohma and is well-known for his competitive and short-tempered ways, much like Katsuki Bakugo of My Hero Academia fame. Kyo doesn’t have a career as a hero ahead of him, though. In fact, he doesn’t have a future, according to Akito’s endless verbal abuse.
However, Kyo is determined to find a future, even a modest one, if it means being free from the curse. That future probably won’t be at college, though, since Kyo has little interest in such things and would get frustrated quickly. Yuki’s the one who would go to college.
5 WOULD GRADUATE: Maki Oze, The Fire Soldier (Fire Force)
Maki Oze is a second-generation pyrokinetic, and like Lieutenant Hinawa, she also once served in the Empire of Japan’s military. Clearly, Maki understands the value of discipline and focus, and she can accomplish anything that she sets her mind to. A model fire soldier indeed. Maki isn’t necessarily a tactical genius, but she is alert and creative in battle, and Maki can handle paperwork better than Shinra and Arthur can. It’s easy to imagine Maki getting an associate’s or bachelor’s, especially with a scholarship backing her up.
4 WOULD DROP OUT: Mina Ashido, The Elegant Acid Hero (My Hero Academia)
Mina Ashido shines when she sticks to her strengths, which are many. Mina has nerves of steel when facing villains or bullies, and she is highly cooperative and has a dancer’s grace on top of that. All of this makes her an effective hero with her Acid Quirk, which rewards her creativity.
Mina isn’t so creative in the classroom, though. She’s second to last in Class 1-A’s grades, though she was humble and wise enough to ask Momo Yaoyorozu for study help. Mina would struggle in college, but as a trainee hero, she doesn’t need a degree anyway.
3 WOULD GRADUATE: Edward Elric, The Boy Genius (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
The Elric brothers, Alphonse and Edward, grew up in a rural town named Resembool, surrounded by pastures and sheep flocks. Despite that, these brothers have an affinity for science and study, and they enjoy visiting libraries and research labs in Central, and other major communities. Country life is so boring for them. Edward (and Alphonse, for that matter) would thrive in college, as long as he doesn’t get into any fights with that short temper of his. Barring any incidents, Edward would easily get a fancy degree in the STEM field and put it to good use.
2 WOULD DROP OUT: Ban, The Fox Sin Of Greed (The Seven Deadly Sins)
Ban is a Holy Knight with a secret: he is unkillable. Since he drank from the fountain of youth, Ban can regenerate even fatal wounds with ease, and he also has street smarts, having grown up as a street urchin in his boyhood. Ban now wanders the world, stealing things and sometimes getting into trouble. While Ban is insightful and creative in battle, he probably has a minimal education, and he would find college horribly boring and pointless. He would probably get expelled for trying to cheat, and it wouldn’t be much of a loss for him anyway.
1 WOULD GRADUATE: Levy McGarden, The Librarian Wizard (Fairy Tail)
Much like Edward Elric, Levy McGarden has a keen mind with a disposition for studying, and she even has enchanted glasses that allow her to read much faster than normal. Levy is most at home in a library, endlessly absorbing new knowledge and putting it to use. Levy would be a natural fit at any library, and if she quit the Fairy Tail guild for some reason, she could pursue any bookish career she wanted and get whatever degree is necessary. In fact, Levy might become a college professor herself someday.
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