Penn State Student-Athletes Post Another Outstanding Academic Performance in 2023 Fall Semester

Penn State student-athletes turned in another tremendous semester by recording a 3.24 term grade-point average (GPA) in the 2023 fall semester. The Nittany Lions had 581 students (70%) with a 3.0 semester GPA and 298 Dean's List honorees (3.5 semester GPA). In addition, a record-breaking 80 full-time students tallied a 4.0 semester with 24 carrying a 4.0 cumulative GPA.

"Our student-athlete continue to amaze me with their commitment to excellence both academically and athletically. To have 70% of our students earn a 3.0 GPA in fall semester is outstanding and should a source of pride for all Penn Staters," said Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Patrick Kraft. "Even more impressive and worthy of acknowledgement are the 80 student-athletes who had a perfect 4.0 in the fall. We are so proud to have these students represent the Blue & White."

2023 Fall Semester Notable Numbers:

3.24 semester grade-point average

3.26 cumulative GPA

581 student-athletes with 3.0 semester GPA (seventh-straight fall semester with 500+ student-athletes with a 3.0 term GPA)

80 full-time student-athletes with a 4.0 semester GPA (fall and overall record)

298 student-athletes on Dean's List (3.5 GPA)

27 teams (of 31 total) with a 3.0 GPA or higher

Women's Gymnastics Posts Highest Team GPA

The women's gymnastics team recorded the highest team GPA among Penn State's 31 programs during the fall with a 3.78 GPA, followed by the women's tennis (3.63), women's lacrosse (3.57), women's swimming & diving (3.57) and women's soccer (3.56). Men's hockey had the highest GPA among the men's programs with a 3.50.

Student-Athletes with 3.0 GPA or Higher; Fall Semester, 2019-23

Fall 2023 – 581

Fall 2022 – 584 (fall and overall record)

Fall 2021 – 567

Fall 2020 – 742*

Fall 2019 – 535

* - alternative grading used due to COVID-19 pandemic

Student-Athletes Earning Dean's List Honors; Fall Semester, 2019-23

(3.5 GPA or higher; minimum 12 credits)

Fall 2023 – 298

Fall 2022 – 302 (fall and overall record)

Fall 2021 – 289

Fall 2020 – 327*

Fall 2019 – 280

* - alternative grading used due to COVID-19 pandemic

"Like many Penn State students involved in extracurricular activities, student-athletes must balance multiple demands," said Interim Vice Provost and Dean, Undergraduate Education Jeff Adams. "It is important to acknowledge the role many others play in helping these students be successful. This includes our faculty, our academic advisers in the Colleges and Division of Undergraduate Studies, the counselors and learning specialists in the Morgan Center, and the many staff who serve our students on a daily basis. Penn State is truly impressive because of both the high academic achievement and involvement of our students outside of the classroom whether in athletics, THON or other activities."

Penn State Among the Nation's Premier Athletic Programs in Comprehensive Excellence

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.

Penn State student-athletes earned a record 93% NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) and 12 programs earned perfect 100% ratings in the 2023 report. This is the seventh consecutive year the Nittany Lions have posted a record or record-tying performance in the classroom. Penn State is one of only six schools that have won at least 10 NCAA Championships since 2013 and earned at least a 90 percent Graduation Success Rate (GSR) in the 2023 NCAA report (California, Florida, Stanford, USC, Virginia).