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What does it take to be nominated for an Oscar? Hard work, talent, luck—all backed up by a good education. You have to supply the first three yourself, but PlaybillEDU™ can help you find the fourth.

Here is a rundown on where the selected nominees for the 2014 Academy Awards pursued their college studies. Visit PlaybillEDU.com to learn how you can follow in their footsteps. Individual school listings on the site are linked below.

Best Actress in a Leading Role
Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine): University of Melbourne
Sandra Bullock (Gravity): East Carolina University
Judi Dench (Philomena): Central School of Speech and Drama
Meryl Streep (August: Osage County): Vassar College and Yale University
Amy Adams (American Hustle): NA

Best Actor in a Leading Role
Bruce Dern (Nebraska): Pennsylvania University
Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave): London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club): University of Texas at Austin
Christian Bale (American Hustle): NA
Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street): NA Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips): Minnesota State University at Moorhead
Bradley Cooper (American Hustle): Villanova University and Georgetown University
Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave) St. Brendan's College and Drama Centre London
Jonah Hill (The Wolf of Wall Street): Bard College
Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club): University of the Arts
and School of Visual Arts

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine): Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle): NA
Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave): Hampshire College, Yale University and Whittier College
Julia Roberts (August: Osage County): Georgia State University
June Squibb (Nebraska): Hampshire College, Yale University and Whittier College

Best Directing
American Hustle (David O. Russell) Amherst College
Gravity (Alfonso Cuarón): National Autonomous University of Mexico
Nebraska (Alexander Payne): Stanford University and University of Salamanca
12 Years a Slave (Steve McQueen): West London College, Chelsea College of Art and Design, and Goldsmiths College, University of London
The Wolf of Wall Street (Martin Scorsese): New York University—Tisch School of the Arts

Best Original Score
The Book Thief (John Williams): University of California, Los Angeles and The Juilliard School
Gravity (Steven Price): University of Cambridge
Her (William Butler): Northwestern University and (Owen Pallett): University of Toronto
Philomena (Alexandre Desplat): NA
Saving Mr. Banks (Thomas Newman): NA

Best Original Song
“Happy” (Despicable Me 2) by Pharrell Williams, NA
“Let It Go” (Frozen) by Kristen Anderson-Lopez (Williams College) and Robert Lopez (Yale University)
“The Moon Song” (Her) Karen O (Oberlin College and New York University—Tisch School of the Arts) and Spike Jonze (San Francisco Art Institute)
“Ordinary Love” (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom) by Bono (Mount Temple Comprehensive School) and U2