Where Did Erika Kirk Go to College? The Education of Charlie Kirk’s Widow and TPUSA’s New CEO (2025)

Key takeaways

• Erika Kirk earned two bachelor's degrees from Arizona State University in political science and international relations
• She started college as a basketball player at Regis University in Colorado before transferring to ASU
• Kirk went back to school years later to earn a law-related graduate degree from Liberty University

Ever wonder how the right college choices can shape someone's future? Erika Kirk's story shows how a basketball scholarship, a transfer decision, and a love of learning led to an unexpected leadership role in American politics.

What college did Erika Kirk go to?

Right after graduating from Notre Dame Preparatory High School in Scottsdale, Arizona in 2007, Erika Kirk headed to Denver to play college basketball. She joined the Regis University Jesuit Rangers as a Division II athlete.

Basketball brought her to Regis, but she only stayed for about two years. She played in eight games during her first season but spent most of her time on the bench.

After fall 2009, Kirk decided to leave Regis without finishing her degree there. Sometimes the first college you pick isn't the perfect fit, and that's okay.

Why did she transfer to Arizona State University?

Kirk moved back to Arizona and enrolled at Arizona State University, one of the biggest public universities in the country. ASU has over 80,000 students across multiple campuses, giving her way more options than the small private college in Denver.

At ASU, she picked a double major that combined two related fields:

• Political Science: Studying how governments work, voting patterns, and public policy
• International Relations: Learning about global politics, diplomacy, and how countries interact

This combination makes sense if you're interested in how the world works at both the local and global level. Kirk finished both degrees around 2012, the same year she competed in the Miss USA pageant after winning Miss Arizona USA on her 23rd birthday.

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Did Erika Kirk go to law school?

Not exactly. Kirk didn't become a lawyer, but she did go back to school to study law. In 2017, she graduated from Liberty University with something called a Juris Master degree in American Legal Studies.

Here's the difference:

• A Juris Doctor (JD) takes three years and lets you become a practicing lawyer
• A Juris Master (JM) is shorter and teaches you about American law without making you a lawyer

Think of it like learning the rules of basketball without becoming a professional player. The knowledge is useful even if it's not your main career. For Kirk, understanding constitutional law and legal frameworks helped her in nonprofit work and leadership roles.

What is Erika Kirk studying now?

As of 2025, Kirk is working on a Ph.D. in Biblical studies at Liberty University. That's the same school where she got her law degree. Liberty is a Christian university in Virginia known for its faith-based programs.

Kirk has always mixed faith with her work. She started a ministry program called BIBLEin365 back in 2016 and launched a Christian clothing company called Proclaim Streetwear in 2018. Her doctoral studies fit with these projects and her podcast about Biblical leadership.

Going back to school while running businesses and raising kids shows serious dedication to education.

How did college prepare her for leading Turning Point USA?

Nobody could have predicted the tragic event that changed Kirk's life. Her husband Charlie Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA when he was just 18, was killed while giving a speech at a Utah university in September 2025.

Eight days later, the organization's board chose Erika to take over as CEO. She was 36 years old.

Her education gave her tools for this unexpected role:

1. Political science classes taught her how organizations and power structures work
2. International relations gave her a big-picture view of complex issues
3. Legal studies helped her understand constitutional debates and regulations
4. Biblical studies ground her leadership style in faith-based principles

Kirk had already proven herself as an entrepreneur. At 18, she founded a nonprofit called Everyday Heroes Like You to support small charities. She knew how to start things and lead people before tragedy thrust her into the national spotlight.

Planning your own college path or thinking about going back to school later? Check out financial resources at TuitionHero to understand the costs of earning multiple degrees over time.

Erika Kirk's education at a glance

How Charlie Kirk’s death changed Erika’s life

In September 2025, her husband, Charlie Kirk, was killed while giving a speech at a Utah university. The news shocked political circles nationwide and left Turning Point USA facing a leadership crisis at its most vulnerable moment.

Just eight days later, the organization’s board selected Erika as the new CEO. While the decision came during a moment of grief and public attention, it wasn’t entirely out of the blue.

Those close to Charlie noted he had long trusted Erika’s judgment and leadership, and her mix of academic training, nonprofit experience, and faith-centered initiatives positioned her as someone who could stabilize the organization during a historic transition.

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Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Did Erika Kirk finish her degree at Regis University?

No. Regis confirmed she attended from fall 2007 through fall 2009 but didn't graduate. She transferred to Arizona State University and earned her bachelor's degrees there instead. Transferring schools is common, especially if your first choice doesn't feel right.

What did Erika Kirk study in college?

She majored in both political science and international relations at Arizona State University. These subjects look at how governments work, how countries relate to each other, and how political decisions affect people's lives.

Can Erika Kirk practice law?

No. Her Juris Master degree from Liberty University teaches about American law but doesn't qualify her to be a lawyer. That would require a Juris Doctor degree and passing the bar exam. Her degree is more about understanding legal systems than representing clients in court.

Why did Erika Kirk choose Liberty University?

Liberty is one of the largest Christian universities in America. Kirk's faith plays a big role in her life and work, so Liberty's programs in legal studies and Biblical scholarship matched her values. The school has strong distance learning options too, which helps when you're balancing school with other responsibilities.

What is Erika Kirk doing besides running Turning Point USA?

She's juggling a lot. Kirk is finishing her doctorate, running her Christian clothing brand Proclaim Streetwear, hosting a weekly podcast called "Midweek Rise Up," raising two young children, and now leading an organization with chapters on over 3,500 campuses. Her schedule is packed.

Final thoughts

Erika Kirk's college story isn't a straight line, and that's what makes it interesting. She tried one school, transferred to another, earned multiple degrees over many years, and kept learning even while building businesses and starting a family.

Her path shows that education works differently for everyone. Some people finish four years, and they're done. Others, like Kirk, keep going back to school because they love learning or need new skills for new challenges.

Erika Kirk's journey, from basketball player to beauty queen to nonprofit founder, doctoral student, and CEO, proves that learning never stops and is always changing. Your education can shift and open doors to unexpected chances.

Source

• Erika Kirk - Wikipedia
• Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk's widow, is Turning Point USA's new CEO : NPR
• Charlie Kirk's widow Erika elected as new CEO for Turning Point USA after husband's death - ABC News