Being a bona fide country music star isn’t going to interrupt Scotty McCreery‘s plans to continue his schooling. The 18-year-old ‘American Idol‘ champion and Academy of Country Music’s Best New Artist winner will be furthering his education at North Carolina State University, starting this fall.

“I have decided to head down to Raleigh where my dad went to college at North Carolina State for at least for two years and maybe transfer to Nashville then,” McCreery said in a chat with CMT Live Radio. “I’m excited.”

Don’t worry, McCreery won’t be abandoning his music career, which has already produced hits like ‘I Love You This Big’ and ‘The Trouble With Girls.’ In an interview with PEOPLE, he explained, “We’re gonna work classes around [and] head out on the weekends on the road or something. We’re gonna work it out.”

What will Scotty study? “I think marketing would be a cool way of learning how to stay out there and stay current,” he revealed. So he’s continuing his music career on the weekends, while taking marketing courses that will directly benefit him as a performer. Now that is one smart guy!

McCreery was thrilled to capture the ACM Best New Artist trophy last night and tweeted, “HUGE thanks to the fans!!! Wow! Yall always have my back and i love you for it! See ya on the road!”

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