Penn State student-athletes far outpace national graduation rates

Penn State student-athletes far outpace national graduation rates

80 percent graduation rate is among the best in Division I

University Park, Pa. -- Penn State student-athletes posted one of their finest graduation rate performances overall since the NCAA began publication of institutional rates in 1990, according to statistical information released recently by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

The NCAA's annual study of institutions nationwide revealed that Penn State student-athletes at the University Park campus had a graduation rate of 80 percent compared to a mark of 62 percent for all Division I institutions. The survey documented the entering freshman class of 1996-97 who earned degrees within six years. The report is produced annually from data collected by the U.S. Department of Education.

The 80 percent rate is one of Penn State's best performances in the 13-year history of the report, topped by the 83 percent mark for the entering class of 1989-90.

"One of the things that Penn Staters should be most proud of is the University's unfailing commitment to the priority of academics among its student-athletes," said Penn State President Graham B. Spanier. "These graduation rate figures show very clearly that our student-athletes are excelling in the classroom as well as on the athletic field. Given the extra demands of team competition, it says a great deal about the quality of Penn State student-athletes."

The graduation rate for all Penn State students also was 80 percent in the sample period. The four-year average rate for University Park student-athletes was 79 percent, significantly above the national average of 60 percent for student-athletes. The four-year average was second highest in the Big Ten to Northwestern. The four-year average for University Park students was 80 percent, easily exceeding the 57 percent rate for all students nationwide.
     
African-American student-athletes at Penn State continue to graduate at much higher percentages than at other Division I institutions. The 78 percent success rate marks the 13th straight year that Penn State's graduation rate for African-American student-athletes topped the African-American figures for Division i. At all institutions in the NCAA compilation, the African-American graduation percentile for the entering class of 1995-96 was 52 percent.

The Penn State football team produced an especially noteworthy academic performance, with 86 percent of the freshmen entering in 1996-97 earning their degrees -- significantly above the national rate of 54 percent. The football rate was the third highest in the 13 years the report has been issued. Coach Joe Paterno's team had the highest graduation rate among all Big Ten institutions, followed by Northwestern (81) and Indiana (75).

The four-year average rate for Nittany Lion gridders was 76 percent, second only to Northwestern among conference institutions.

African-American members of the Nittany Lion football team posted a superlative 85 percent graduation rate, easily exceeding the Division I average of 48 percent.

The Nittany Lion football program's 76 percent four-year graduation rate is tied for second-highest among the schools ranked in the Sept. 1 USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll. Notre Dame is first (81 percent), followed by Penn State and Virginia (76 percent).

The members of Penn State's 14 women's teams demonstrated particularly impressive academic achievement, logging a graduation rate of 88 percent, which was 18 points better than the national average (70 percent) and surpassed their peers in the University student body (82 percent). Penn State's female student-athletes have a four-year graduation rate of 87 percent, second only to Northwestern among Big Ten institutions.
    
The Penn State male student-athlete graduation rate of 74 percent was 19 percentage points better than the national average of 55 percent. The figure was third highest among Big Ten schools.

Of the Penn State student-athletes in the NCAA studies from 1987-88 through 1996-97 who exhausted their eligibility, 94 percent left with their diplomas.
This is the 13th release of institutional graduation rates since national "right-to-know" legislation was passed in 1990.

Among some of the other recent accomplishments of Penn State student-athletes and the staff of the Morgan Academic Support Center for Student-Athletes, under the leadership of director Diana Kenepp:

• During the 2003 Spring semester, 353 Penn State student-athletes earned a grade point average of 3.0 or above, an impressive and record-tying 54 percent of the 654 young men and women who were actively participating in Penn State's 29 varsity sports. There are approximately 800 Penn State student-athletes, including those who are medically unable to participate or whose competitive eligibility has been exhausted but are working toward their degree.

Among the 353 student-athletes with a 3.0, 156 earned a 3.5 GPA or better to gain Dean's List recognition.

• A school record 231 Penn State student-athletes earned Academic All-Big Ten accolades during 2002-03. Penn State has led all Big Ten institutions in academic all-conference honorees six of the past seven years, accumulating 1,473 selections the past seven years, easily the most among the conference institutions. To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a letterwinner in at least their second academic year and carry a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.

• Six Nittany and Lady Lion student-athletes were selected a Verizon Academic All-American in 2002-03, giving Penn State 65 such selections over the past 10 years and 104 total. To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a letterwinner in at least their second academic year and carry a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or better.

• In 2002, Penn State was one of only 10 NCAA Division I-A institutions selected for U.S. News and World Report's 2002 College Sports Honor Roll for academic and athletic achievement.

Here is a comparison of key categories in the 2003 NCAA graduation rate survey, which covers the entering class of 1996-97 who earned degrees within six years. For a chart, go to http://live.psu.edu/still_life/09_05_03_ncaa/index.html

All students
Penn State: 80 percent; NCAA Division I average: 59 percent

Student-athletes
Penn State: 80 percent; NCAA Division I average: 62 percent

Black students
Penn State: 60 percent; NCAA Division I average: 41 percent

Black student-athletes
Penn State: 78 percent; NCAA Division I average: 52 percent

Football  
Penn State: 86 percent; NCAA Division I average: 54 percent

Black football student-athletes
Penn State: 85 percent; NCAA Division I average: 48 percent

Male students
Penn State: 77 percent; NCAA Division I average: 56 percent

Male student-athletes
Penn State: 74 percent; NCAA Division I average: 55 percent

Female students 
Penn State: 82 percent; NCAA Division I average: 62 percent

Female student-athletes
Penn State: 88 percent; NCAA Division I average: 70 percent