It's back-to-school season, and some celebrity students are about to start a major milestone: college.
Olympic gymnast Sunisa "Suni" Lee, for instance, kicked off her freshman year at Auburn University, and Euphoria actress Storm Reid began her first semester at the University of Southern California.
While the big moment is often filled with excitement, it can also contain some tears as parents proudly watch their children start this next chapter. When Natalia Bryant arrived at USC for move-in day, her mom Vanessa Bryant admitted "today was rough" and shared a photo of herself smiling along with Natalia and her younger sisters Bianka and Capri Bryant "before the tears came down."
"Missing [two-fingers emoji] forever," she wrote, seemingly referencing her late husband Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna Bryant who died in a helicopter crash in January 2020. "I love you @nataliabryant BE EPIC and FIGHT ON."
Candace Cameron Bure also cried after sending her son Maksim Bure off to school.
"College bound!!!" the actress wrote alongside a photo of the duo at the airport. "I'm so excited for him, although as his mama, and him being the baby, I'm so [crying emoji]. Go @maksim.bure Go!! Be great for God!!"
Scroll on to see these photos and more stars dropping their kids off at college.
Heidi Klum
The supermodel said auf wiedersehen to her and Seal's son Johan when she dropped him off at his New York City college in August 2025.
Naomi Watts & Liev Schreiber
The former couple reunited to help their son Sasha move into his dorm at the University of Southern California.
"We packed and unpacked, stacked and color coded," the Mulholland Dr. actress wrote on Instagram in August 2025. "We walked and walked, woke up early with excitement. Then we shopped and shopped, and sometimes fought about stupid stuff... We laughed, we cried, I had a few extra secret cries and maybe some not so private ones."
She added, "We had deep talks mixed in with a few fart jokes... then gave advice about how the world works. But then remembered: he's got this!! He did it!!"
Lauren Sánchez Bezos
Nealry two months after her wedding to Jeff Bezos, the Good Day L.A. alum dropped off her and ex Patrick Whitesell's son Evan at college in August 2024.
Sunny Hostin
The View cohost couldn't help but to break down in tears when she dropped daughter Paloma Hostin off at Cornell University in August 2024. In fact, Sunny admittedly had to take a small hiatus from social media to "wrap my brain around being an empty nester and letting the birds fly."
Gizelle Bryant
In August 2024, the Real Housewives of Potomac star and her ex Jamal Bryant helped their oldest daughter Angel Bryant move into Spelman College in Atlanta.
As seen in a TikTok video posted by Gizelle, the former couple went on to drop off their middle daughter Adore Bryant at Hampton University in Hampton, Va., and youngest daughter Grace Bryant at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee—all in the span of five days!
Al Roker
The Today anchor and his wife Deborah Roberts admitted that their hearts were "sagging a bit" when they dropped son Nick Roker off for his junior year of college in August 2024.
"But his smile ensures that we will all be ok," Deborah noted, with Al noting in a post of his own that the house "is a little too quiet."
Teresa Giudice
The Real Housewives of New Jersey star dropped off Milania Giudice at the University of Tampa on Aug. 26, 2024.
"And she’s off," Teresa wrote on Instagram, sharing a photo of her daughter in her new dorm room, as well as a video of the teen crying. "Today is the start of a new, exciting chapter! I love you so much and can’t wait to watch everything you accomplish over these next four years."
Guy Fieri
Flavortown got a little lonelier in August 2024, when the celebrity chef and his wife Lori Fieri saw their son Ryder Fieri move into his dorm at San Diego State University.
"It hasn’t fully hit us yet," Guy captioned this family selfie on Instagram, "but not seeing him everyday is gonna be hard."
Brooke Shields
The Blue Lagoon alum joked about her "empty nester" status after sending her and husband Chris Henchy's youngest daughter, Grier Henchy, off to Wake Forest University in North Carolina. In an August 2024 TikTok, Brooke dropped Grier's luggage off at her dorm room before excitedly running off.
However, in a follow-up video, the mom of two tearfully shared that it was "not easy" for her to say goodbye.
"It was really hard," Brooke continued. "She started crying, and then I really started crying. And then, I cried a good portion of the ride home."
Jerry Seinfeld
What's the deal with kids growing up? That was probably what the comedian was asking himself when he and wife Jessica Seinfeld helped son Shepherd Seinfeld move into his dorm in August 2024.
Joanna Gaines
The HGTV host said "saying goodbye doesn't get easier" as she saw her and Chip Gaines' oldest son Drake head off to his second year at Baylor University.
She added in an August 2024 Instagram post, "Lots of love to all the parents sending their kids off to school this season."
Michael Strahan
The morning show host was having a good morning on Aug. 23, 2023, when he sent his youngest daughter Sophia Strahan to Duke University.
"Can’t believe how time has flown by and I’m so proud of her," he wrote on Instagram. "I know she’s going to crush college life!!"
Alex Rodriguez
The baseball legend dropped off daughter Natasha Rodriguez at University of Michigan in 2023, writing on Instagram that the experience was "one of the hardest, but most proud moments of being a father."
Kevin Hart
There was a bit of an empty space in the comedian's heart when daughter Heaven Hart went off to college in 2023. As he joked on Instagram, "I cried in the car."
"I can’t even say little girl anymore because you have blossomed into the most amazing young woman ever," Kevin wrote alongside a photo of Heaven and her siblings Hendrix, Kenzo and Kaori in her dorm room. "God knows I am beyond proud of you and that I love you with my all. Fly Heav Fly….The world is yours!!!!!"
Lara Spencer
The Good Morning America co-anchor drove daughter Katharine Haffenreffer to her college in 2023.
Vanessa Bryant
Kobe Bryant's oldest daughter Natalia Bryant entered college in 2021.
"Today was rough," his widow Vanessa captioned a photo of herself and their younger daughters, Bianka and Capri, dropping the freshman off at the University of Southern California. "This was before the tears came down."
Candace Cameron Bure
The Full House star sent her son Maksim Bure off to college in 2021.
"College bound!!!" she captioned a photo of herself dropping him off at the airport. "I'm so excited for him, although as his mama, and him being the baby, I'm so [crying emoji]."
Brooke Shields
The Suddenly Susan alum joked that seeing her oldest daughter Rowan Henchy off to Wake Forest University in 2021 was "the saddest drive away from anywhere I've ever had to make."
"My unique and extraordinary baby girl spreading her wings," she wrote on Instagram at the time. "I love you so. We are so proud of you."
Storm Reid
The Euphoria star took USC by storm in 2021. She wrote on Instagram as she kicked off her college career, "When we say hot girl summer we talking bout degrees."
Ree Drummond
In 2021, the Pioneer Woman star made a 500-plus mile round trip to help son Bryce Drummond move into his dorm at the University of North Texas.
"I guess it's that important to me for my child to be able to make an egg," she quipped on Instagram. "I love you, my son!"
Suni Lee
Fresh off the Tokyo Olympics, the gold medal gymnast started college at Auburn University in 2021.