UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For the fourth consecutive year, Penn State student-athletes have broken the school record for the number of students with a 3.0 grade-point average or higher during the fall semester.A record 516 Nittany Lion student-athletes earned at least a 3.0 GPA during the 2015 fall semester, to break the mark of 500 high achievers set in 2014.
Among the 516 student-athletes earning at least a 3.0 GPA, 234 garnered Dean’s List honors during the 2015 fall semester by posting a GPA of 3.50 or higher, the second-highest total in school history. The record is 241 during the 2014 fall semester. A minimum of 12 credits is required for Dean’s List recognition.The 516 student-athletes earning at least a 3.0 GPA represent 63 percent of Penn State’s 822 student-athletes enrolled during the fall semester. The efforts of the student-athletes resulted in a record-tying 23 teams earning a semester GPA of 3.0 or higher (tied with the 2014 fall semester).The combined average GPA among Penn State’s 31 varsity sports last fall was 3.11, an increase from the 3.08 average GPA during the fall 2014 semester.“This excellent academic performance is a tribute to the effort our talented student-athletes direct toward their academic pursuits, the priority placed on academic achievement by our coaches, and the support they receive from our dedicated Morgan Academic Center staff, faculty and administration,” said Sandy Barbour, director of athletics. “Developing well-rounded and well-educated citizens of the world is our top priority, and these results make our alumni and donors who have invested mightily in that premise very proud.”Penn State student-athletes with minimum 3.0 GPA, fall semester, 2012-15: Fall 2015 — 516Fall 2014 — 500 Fall 2013 — 468 Fall 2012 — 463 Penn State student-athletes earning Dean’s List honors, fall semester, 2012-15 (3.5 GPA; minimum 12 credits):
Fall 2015 — 234Fall 2014 — 241Fall 2013 — 197Fall 2012 — 211