get a/(one's) sheepskin

slang To earn a diploma for graduating from high school or, more commonly, college or university. Alludes to the fact that diplomas were once printed upon actual sheepskin. I was the first person in my family to get a sheepskin, something that I know my parents were incredibly proud of. It took me nearly eight years doing classes on nights and weekends, but I finally got my sheepskin from Harvard! It took four long years, but I've finally gotten a sheepskin and letters after my name!