UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Thirty-three Penn State student-athletes are scheduled to graduate on Sunday, December 22. The group represents 12 sports on the intent to graduate list.
Football leads the way with 10 student athletes, while men’s basketball, men’s fencing, field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s swimming, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s track and field, and volleyball all have student-athletes who are set to graduate.
Among the student-athletes that have expressed their intent to graduate is tight end Tyler Warren as he completes his degree in telecommunications and media industries. Warren is a consensus All-American and has been named to the first team by two out of the five NCAA-recognized outlets (Football Writers Association of America and Sporting News). On the women's side, Jess Mruzik from women's volleyball is set to receive her master of business administration. The three-time All-American will have to miss the ceremony this weekend as she helps lead her team in the 2024 NCAA Volleyball Championship after taking down Nebraska Thursday evening.
During the 2023-24 academic calendar year, 215 Nittany Lions earned their degrees (Spring 2024-155, Fall 2023-34, Summer 2023-26).
2024 Fall Academic All-Big Ten Honorees
Penn State Athletics saw 117 student-athletes earn Academic All-Big Ten honors for the fall semester. Florence Caron (women's cross country), Gery Schnarrs (field hockey), Fredrick Grundin (men's soccer), Frankee Flesher (women’s soccer), Jordan Fusco (women’s soccer), Kayleigh Herr (women’s soccer), Devon Olive (women’s soccer), Amanda Poorbaugh (women's soccer), Natalie Wilson (women’s soccer), and Catherine Burke (women's volleyball) all had perfect 4.0 GPAs.
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 93% NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) and 11 programs earned perfect 100% ratings. This is the eighth consecutive year the Nittany Lions posted a record or record-tying performance in the classroom, according to data reported by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
Penn State Among the Nation's Most Comprehensive and Successful Athletic Programs
Under the leadership of Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics, Dr. 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.