Penn State Psych squad

Graduation Success Rate of 89 Percent Highlights Another Outstanding Academic Report

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.

Penn State student-athletes continue to graduate well above their peers nationwide, earning outstanding academic performances, according to statistical information released by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

The NCAA’s annual study of institutions across the nation revealed Penn State student-athletes at the University Park campus earned a Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 89 percent compared to the 82 percent average for all Division I institutions for students entering from 2004-05 through the 2007-08 academic year. The 89 percent figure is just one point off Penn State’s 90 percent record mark from the 2010 NCAA report.

The Nittany Lion basketball and Lady Lion basketball teams earned perfect Graduation Success Rates of 100 percent for the second consecutive year. The Penn State football team posted a GSR of 87 percent, up two points from the 2013 report, and tied for its second-highest graduation rate (with 2011).

All three programs delivered graduation figures at least 15 points higher than the national average for their sport for the fifth consecutive NCAA Graduation Rates Report.

The superlative graduation data comes amidst a fall sports season that has seen the Penn State women’s soccer team win its 16th Big Ten Championship in 17 years, the men’s soccer squad leading the conference and the women’s volleyball team one game out of first place as the fall sports’ regular season winds down. During the 2013-14 academic year, Penn State tied its school record with eight Big Ten Championships for the second consecutive year.

“Penn State’s consistently high Graduation Success Rates are a true team effort, with student-athletes, coaches and staff all working together to support excellence in competition and in the classroom, ” said Penn State President Eric Barron. “We’re very proud of the discipline and work ethic that goes into this success story, and offer our sincerest congratulations to everyone involved in the mission of preparing our student-athletes for productive and fulfilling livelihoods beyond college.”