Days after winning season 28 of “The Voice,” 20-year-old Aiden Ross is plotting out his future with care — and some guidance from his coach, Niall Horan.
On December 19, 2025, Ross told Parade that he plans to spend his $100,000 winnings on furthering his music career. But after discussing his options with Horan, he also plans to complete his college degree in engineering at Texas A&M.
Aiden Ross Says Niall Horan Encouraged Him to Graduate From College
NBCThough many 20-year-olds would likely splurge on fun stuff with that much money in their pocket, Ross told Parade, “I think I owe it to myself, I owe it to those who voted for me, my loved ones who sacrificed for me, to invest it into my music career.”
“So, whatever that may be, whether it’s outreach, whether it’s writing and production, it’ll probably be things of that nature,” he continued. “I owe it to music, I won that with music, I should use it to support music.”
That will be especially important, given that Ross — who’s from College Station, Texas — told Parade there is no longer a guaranteed record contract for “The Voice” winner. Though he’s hoping to land a deal with a record label, he also thinks it’s wise to have a backup plan, so he’ll continue to take college clases while he pursues his music career.
“I went to Niall about it and asked him because he’s just great to ask about advice,” Ross shared. “I was like, ‘Well, how do you think this is a Plan B? Do you think I can do it?’ And he was like, ‘Dude, do it. Not really because of a Plan B.’ Niall never had the opportunity to go to college. He said, ‘You should go to college just to stimulate your brain, just to learn. Education is a great thing. It’s a great space to be in.’”
Aiden Ross Says Winning ‘The Voice’ Was a ‘Full Circle Moment’
After his big win, Ross told hometown news station WBTX, “This has all just been such a surreal experience. Something that I had always dreamed of and always wanted, but never truly knew or maybe truly believed that I would have.”
Ross, who grew up watching “The Voice,” told the station that when he heard his name called as the winner of season 28, “I instantly just shot back to me being six years old, watching the first season of the show with my family in the living room, turning my chair, pushing my little button, pretending like I was a coach at the blind auditions. It was just the most full circle moment I’ve really ever had in my entire life.”
Sweet! Congrats Aiden. Every year my top 3 -I always have a Voice winner picked n this year no different! Yes, finish your degree- always stay tapped in to music n maybe use your degree to tap in to music engineering and meet industry folk n build on developing your music career. It’ll unfold the way it’s meant to be.
Why not finish collage and do your music career to! Your young with a beautiful voice. Do Both!!