You’ve seen him on Shark Tank. The silver hair, the sharp suits, and that uncanny ability to spot a winning product before the rest of the world even knows it exists. Kevin Harrington is basically the godfather of the infomercial. But there’s a specific question that pops up whenever people start Googling his rags-to-riches story: where did the "Original Shark" actually go to school?
The truth is a little more "college dropout" and a little less "Ivy League MBA" than you might expect.
Honestly, the kevin harrington education college story isn’t about a degree hanging on a wall. It’s about a guy who was making more money than his professors before he even hit his junior year. While most kids were worried about beer pong or passing Western Civ, Harrington was managing a staff of 25 people and a million-dollar business.
The Cincinnati Roots and a Hard Lesson from Dad
Kevin grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. His father, Charlie Harrington, owned a restaurant. That’s where the "education" really started. Instead of a silver spoon, Kevin got a mop and a lesson in bookkeeping. By age nine, he was hawking newspapers. By fifteen, he was sealing driveways.
When it came time for college, his dad gave him the ultimate entrepreneurial nudge. He told Kevin, "I’m not paying for your college. You need to own your own business."
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That’s some tough love, right? But it worked.
He enrolled at the University of Cincinnati. But he didn't exactly have the "typical" freshman experience. He wasn't just sitting in lecture halls; he was building an empire in the heating and air conditioning space.
The Million Dollar Sophomore
By the time Kevin was a sophomore, his business—which focused on HVAC installations—wasn't just a side hustle. It was a massive operation. He had six trucks on the road every single day.
Imagine being 19 years old. You go to class in the morning. You’re taking notes on macroeconomics. Then, you step out of the classroom, pull out a ledger, and manage 25 employees. He maintained a 3.85 GPA and was a regular on the Dean's List. He was living two lives.
- Morning: Student trying to understand business theory.
- Afternoon: CEO actually doing business.
Eventually, the friction between those two lives became too much. The "kevin harrington education college" journey hit a fork in the road. His mom wanted him to be a doctor or a lawyer—the classic dream for a first-gen success story. But the business was calling too loudly.
Why He Dropped Out (And Why It Worked)
He eventually left the University of Cincinnati to pursue his business full-time. It’s one of those classic "successful dropout" stories that sounds cool now, but it was actually a huge source of tension at the time. He has admitted in interviews that his mother was "very upset" when he quit.
But look at the math. He had already built a business with a $5 million valuation before he was even legally allowed to buy a drink.
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He didn't need a textbook to tell him how to scale; he was already doing it. Shortly after leaving school, he got into the franchise brokerage business and eventually stumbled upon the "dead air" on cable television that led to the birth of the modern infomercial.
The Full Circle: From Dropout to Professor
Here is the irony: even though he didn't finish his own degree, Kevin Harrington is now a fixture in higher education.
He serves on the board of the University of South Florida (USF) entrepreneur programs. He doesn't just sit in board meetings, either. He actually teaches. He’s been a guest lecturer at some of the most prestigious schools in the world, including Harvard and MIT. In fact, for over a decade, his specific business models were used as case studies at Harvard and MIT to teach students about "grassroots entrepreneurship."
He also works closely with the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO), which has a presence on over 240 campuses. He basically went from being the kid who couldn't stay in class to the guy teaching the class.
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What You Can Learn from the Harrington Path
If you’re looking into the kevin harrington education college history because you’re trying to decide if you need a degree, there are a few nuanced takeaways here.
- Skills Over Stamps: Kevin didn't value the "stamp" of a degree as much as the skills of the trade. If you can build a million-dollar business while in school, the market has already given you a grade.
- Theory vs. Practice: He often talks about the "5 P's" of success. You don't necessarily need a 400-level course to learn about persistence and positioning, but you do need a mentor. For Kevin, that was his father and later, Zig Ziglar.
- Leverage Your Environment: Even while he was a student, he used his "student status" to gain trust. He was a Dean's List student running a professional company—that combination gave him a level of credibility that older competitors couldn't touch.
So, did Kevin Harrington graduate? No. Does it matter? Well, considering he’s generated over $5 billion in global sales and launched 20 businesses that hit over $100 million each, the answer is pretty clear.
If you’re a student right now, the best thing you can do is treat your "side project" like it’s your primary major. Start small, like a driveway sealing business, and don't be afraid to pivot when you see "dead air" or an untapped opportunity in the market.
Next Steps for Aspiring Entrepreneurs:
- Audit your time: Are you spending 100% of your energy on theory, or are you actually "sealing driveways" (building something real)?
- Find a mentor: Harrington credits his success to early guidance from his father and the teachings of Napoleon Hill. Find your "Charlie."
- Study the infomercial model: Even if you aren't selling kitchen gadgets, the psychology of the "As Seen On TV" pitch is the foundation of modern digital marketing.