UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – One hundred thirty-one Penn State student-athletes are scheduled to graduate this weekend (May 5-7) during Commencement ceremonies. The 131 student-athletes on the intent to graduate list adds to the 19 student-athletes from the fall graduation and brings Penn State total graduates to 150 for the 2022-23 academic year.
All 31 teams have at least one Nittany Lion student-athlete with the intent to graduate. The football and women's swimming teams lead the Penn State athletic department with 14 student-athletes each.
Among the students who have expressed intent to graduate, is wrestling's Max Dean, a four-time All-American and National Champion. Dean is also a 2022 Academic All-American as he completes his degree in economics. Jahan Dotson, current NFL player, is also slated to graduate. On the women's side, Kate Wiesner from women's soccer and frequent Youth U.S. Women's National Team member, has expressed intent to graduate this weekend.
During the 2022-23 academic year, 150 Nittany Lions earned their degrees (Fall 2022-19, Spring 2023 – 131).
Graduation Success Rates
Penn State student-athletes continue to register record-breaking graduation rates and perform well above their peers nationwide. The Nittany Lions posted a record-tying 92% NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) and 10 programs earned perfect 100% ratings. This is the sixth consecutive year the Nittany Lions have posted a record or record-tying performance in the classroom, according to data reported by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Penn State is one of only five schools that have won at least 10 NCAA Championships since 2013 and earned at least a 90 percent Graduation Success Rate (GSR) in the 2022 NCAA report (Stanford, Florida, USC, Virginia).
Penn State Among the Nation's Most Comprehensive and Successful Athletic Programs
Under the leadership of Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Patrick Kraft 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.
have a GSR of 90% or higher.
One Hundred Thirty-One Student-Athletes Slated to Graduate in Spring Ceremonies
