UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State student-athletes posted another outstanding semester by recording a 3.32 term grade-point average (GPA) in the 2024 fall semester. The Nittany Lions had 636 students (77%) with a 3.0 semester GPA and 328 dean’s list honorees (3.5 semester GPA). In addition, 75 full-time students tallied a 4.0 semester with 25 carrying a 4.0 cumulative GPA.
“I am so proud of our student-athletes and their ability to perform at the highest level academically and athletically," Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Patrick Kraft said. "Our student-athletes continue to raise the academic bar, and to have 77% of our student-athletes with a 3.0 or better GPA and record number of dean’s list honorees is nothing short of amazing.
"I love the pride our student-athletes take in representing the Blue & White each and every day," Kraft added. "We are also so appreciative of the efforts of the Morgan Academic staff for providing guidance and resources to our student-athletes.”
2024 fall semester notable numbers
- 3.32 semester grade-point average
- 3.26 cumulative GPA
- 636 student-athletes with 3.0 semester GPA (eighth-straight fall semester with 500+ student-athletes with a 3.0 term GPA)
- 75 full-time student-athletes with a 4.0 semester GPA
- 328 student-athletes on dean’s list (3.5 GPA)
- 29 teams (of 31 total) with a 3.0 GPA or higher
Women’s golf posts highest team GPA
The women’s golf team recorded the highest team GPA among Penn State’s 31 programs during the fall with a 3.71 GPA, followed by the women’s gymnastics (3.69), men’s golf (3.63), women’s swimming & diving (3.59), women’s cross country and track & field (3.59).
Student-athletes with 3.0 GPA or higher, fall semester, 2020-24
- Fall 2024 – 636 (fall and overall record)
- Fall 2023 – 581
- Fall 2022 – 584
- Fall 2021 – 567
- Fall 2020 – 742 (alternative grading used due to COVID-19 pandemic)
- Fall 2019 – 535
Student-athletes earning dean’s list honors, fall semester, 2020-24
(3.5 GPA or higher; minimum 12 credits)
- Fall 2024 – 328 (fall and overall record)
- Fall 2023 – 298
- Fall 2022 – 302
- Fall 2021 – 289
- Fall 2020 – 327 (alternative grading used due to COVID-19 pandemic)
“These results clearly show how, with the support of the outstanding staff in the Morgan Academic Center, the support of coaches and ICA leadership, the efforts of faculty to provide alternative means of learning when necessary, and the commitment of the students themselves, our student-athletes can indeed achieve success in the classroom while also performing at nationally competitive levels in their sports,” said Jeff Adams, senior associate vice provost and senior associate dean for Undergraduate Education.
Penn State among nation’s premier athletic programs in comprehensive excellence
Under Kraft's leadership, Penn State has one of the nation's most comprehensive and successful athletic programs, featuring 800-plus 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 institution.
Penn State student-athletes earned a record-tying 93% NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) and 11 programs earned perfect 100% ratings in the 2024 report. This is the eighth consecutive year the Nittany Lions have posted a record or record-tying performance in the classroom. Penn State is one of only eight schools that have won at least 10 NCAA Championships since 2013 and earned at least a 90 percent GSR in the 2024 NCAA report (California, Florida, North Carolina, Stanford, USC, UCLA and Virginia).