UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics' students continued to impress with record-breaking performances in the classroom in the 2022 spring semester. The Nittany Lions had spring records (non-alternative grading) with 546 students (68%) with a 3.0 semester grade-point average (GPA) and 284 Dean's List honorees (3.5 semester GPA; 35.3%) in the spring.
In addition, 80 students concluded the spring term with a 4.0 semester GPA with six of those students carrying a 4.0 cumulative GPA. The students who own a perfect 4.00 cumulative GPA are: Molly Carson (women's swimming & diving), Connor McMenamin (men's track & field), Amanda Poorbaugh (women's soccer), Julia Raich (women's soccer), Margery Schnarrs (field hockey) and Claire Swedberg (softball).
Overall, Penn State student-athletes had a 3.21 semester GPA during the spring term with 26 Nittany Lion teams recording at least a 3.0 GPA. Penn State student-athletes also have a 3.30 cumulative GPA.
2022 Spring Semester Notable Numbers:
3.21 semester grade-point average
3.30 cumulative GPA
546 student-athletes with 3.0 semester GPA
284 student-athletes on Dean's List (3.5 GPA with 12 credits)
80 student-athletes with a 4.0 semester GPA
26 teams (of 31 total) with a 3.0 GPA or higher
"Another record-breaking semester has come to a close and I could not be prouder of our students, who continue to dominate in the classroom and in competition. I have said it time and again, our students are the epitome of a STUDENT-athlete," said Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Sandy Barbour. "Academic diligence, and the unwavering expectation at Penn State, are part of the formula for 'preparing students for a lifetime of impact.' Every member of the Penn State family understands academic excellence is non-negotiable. Our students, coaches, faculty, Morgan Academic Center staff, and all who have supported them deserve all the credit for these fabulous results. We have a proud tradition of success in the classroom, and I know it will continue."
More Than 500 Nittany Lion Students Earn at Least 3.0 GPA for Fourth-Straight Spring Semester
Five hundred forty-six Nittany Lion students posted a 3.0 GPA or higher, marking the fourth-straight spring semester with at least 500 Nittany Lion students earning a 3.0 semester GPA. The Nittany Lions had 505 students with a 3.0+ GPA in the spring of 2019, 694 students had a 3.0+ GPA in the spring of 2020 and 682 students had at least a 3.0 in spring of 2021. In addition, Russ Mushinsky, Director of the Morgan Academic Center, reported 284 student-athletes earned Dean's List status by posting at least a 3.5 GPA (minimum 12 credits) during the spring semester.
Twenty-six of Penn State's 31 squads posted a team GPA of 3.00 or higher. A total of 68 percent of 805 enrolled student-athletes during the spring earned a 3.0 GPA or higher.
Women's Soccer Posts Highest Team GPA
The women's soccer team recorded the highest team GPA among Penn State's 31 programs during the spring with a 3.71 GPA, followed by the women's lacrosse (3.67), women's gymnastics (3.65) and women's swimming & diving (3.57). Men's cross country had the highest GPA among the men's programs with a 3.50.
Student-Athletes With 3.0 GPA or higher; Spring semester, 2018-22
Spring 2022 – 546 (spring record)
Spring 2021 – 682*
Spring 2020 – 694*
Spring 2019 – 505
Spring 2018 – 487
* - alternative grading used due to COVID-19 pandemic
Student-Athletes earning Dean's List honors; Spring semester, 2018-22
(3.5 GPA or higher; minimum 12 credits)
Spring 2022 – 284 (spring record)
Spring 2021 – 299*
Spring 2020 – 426*
Spring 2019 – 245
Spring 2018 – 229
* - alternative grading used due to COVID-19 pandemic
Penn State Among the Nation's Premier Athletic Programs in Comprehensive Excellence
Penn State has one of the nation's most comprehensive and successful athletic programs, featuring 800 student-athletes across 31 varsity programs (16 men's, 15 women's). The Nittany Lions' 31 programs are tied for the fourth-highest number of sports sponsored by a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) institution.
Nittany Lion students have posted an NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of program-record 92 percent in the most recent report. Ten teams earned a 100 percent graduation rate in the 2021 NCAA Graduation Rates Report. A total of 18 Penn State squads have a GSR of 90% or higher. The Nittany Lions rank No. 4 among all Division I schools with 218 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans all-time.
Penn State student-athletes have led the athletic department to 47 Big Ten championships and nine NCAA National Championships since October 2013. Penn State is one of only five schools that have won at least 10 NCAA Championships since 2012 and earned at least a 90 percent Graduation Success Rate in the 2021 NCAA report (Stanford, Florida, USC, Virginia).
