Murray State Student-Athletes Shatter School Record for Highest Departmental GPA

For the second time in the last three years, Murray State's student-athletes have broken the school record for highest GPA with a 3.35 in Spring 2026. The previous record was set in Spring 2024 when the department notched a 3.34 GPA.

The academic mark also extends the Racers' continuous streak of maintaining a departmental GPA of a 3.0 or better, which now stands at 44 consecutive semesters.

"To once again raise the standard academically and continue a tradition of excellence in the classroom is an incredible achievement," Murray State University President Dr. Ron Patterson said. "We are extremely proud of each of our student-athletes for their commitment and dedication, and we are thankful for the coaches and academic support staff who consistently emphasize success both in competition and in the classroom."

Murray State saw 13 teams notch a GPA above 3.0, with seven of those teams posting an average of at least a 3.5. Volleyball led the way with a departmental best 3.82, with Baseball leading all male sport programs with a 3.51. Football also notched an impressive number, recording their second-best GPA in program history with a 3.04.

"We are incredibly proud of the effort our student-athletes continue to put into their academics, and breaking our departmental GPA record and extending our 3.0 GPA streak to 44 consecutive semesters is a remarkable achievement," Director of Athletics Nico Yantko said. "We continue to prioritize student-athlete success through the Dennis Jackson Leadership Program and academic support both internally and on campus. This is an incredible achievement, and we are grateful for our coaches, academic support staff and everyone who helped make this record-breaking milestone possible."

Eight-seven (87) student-athletes made the President's List, which is a perfect 4.0 for the semester, while eighty-four (84) student-athletes made the Dean's List, which requires a 3.5 or higher.

Overall, 254 student-athletes had a semester GPA of 3.0 or higher, which represents 77 of all student-athletes reaching this accomplishment.

The Dennis Jackson Leadership Program, which was announced in January 2023, provides the needed tools to Murray State student-athletes in the areas of personal growth, life skills and professional development. From recruitment through retirement, the program is a guide for student-athletes to be successful people both with their families and in their careers.

The program is named after Racer great Dennis Jackson, who became the first African American student-athlete at Murray State in 1960 and excelled to All-Ohio Valley Conference status in two sports. Jackson went on to graduate from Murray State with degrees in history and physical education.

For more information on the program, click HERE.

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Murray State University Athletics

Murray State Student-Athletes Shatter School Record for Highest Departmental GPA

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