South Orange, N.J. – Seton Hall Athletics is a leader among its peers in academic and athletic success, and for an 11th consecutive year, the department is concluding the academic year with a record-high cumulative grade point average. After Spring 2021, Seton Hall student-athletes have combined for a 3.491 cumulative GPA, which improves upon the 3.464 the department had after Spring 2020. All 14 varsity programs concluded 2019-20 with cumulative GPAs above 3.0.
The continued record academic success all comes despite the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on in-person learning that forced a significant amount of remote education. The incredible ascent in the department's grades dates back to the end of the 2010-11 academic year, when the department's cumulative GPA was at 3.174.
In addition, 160 student-athletes made the Seton Hall Dean's List during the Spring 2021 semester, representing 59 percent of the student-athlete population. To achieve Dean's List designation, students must have a 3.4 GPA or higher during the semester.
"Our student-athletes put together another tremendous year in the classroom, and that is a testament to their dedication to academic success," Seton Hall Director of Athletics Bryan Felt said. "Congratulations to our student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and especially our academic support staff, on completing another year with a record-high GPA even in the face of the continued COVID-19 pandemic and all the challenges that came with it. We are grateful to have such talented student-athletes who come to Seton Hall eager to make their mark in the classroom."
All 14 programs currently boast cumulative GPAs above 3.0 with volleyball leading the way at 3.748. Men's soccer has the highest GPA among the male sports at 3.611. In total, seven of Seton Hall's 14 teams have a cumulative GPA above 3.50.
Seton Hall's teams combined to post a 3.486 GPA in the 2020-21 academic year with volleyball again leading all with a 3.786 GPA and men's soccer leading the male sports at 3.619.
In the Spring 2021 semester, the Pirates combined for a 3.476 semester GPA with volleyball leading all teams at 3.795 and men's swimming & diving leading all the male teams at 3.598.
Men's basketball, the department's highest-profile team with six consecutive top-four BIG EAST finishes, continues to boast a strong academic profile as it completed its sixth straight academic year with a cumulative GPA over 3.0, which included a 3.167 GPA in the spring semester.
Women's basketball, which navigated the ultra-competitive BIG EAST to a third-place finish, also finished the academic year with a cumulative GPA above 3.0, sitting at 3.122.
Seton Hall Athletics continues to be a leader and developer of the best and brightest in the nation. Annually, over 85 percent of the department's student-athletes achieve at least a 3.0 GPA in the classroom and receive numerous honors and accolades in support of their achievements. Of special note in 2020-21:
- Fifty-one student-athletes were inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society
- Thirty-eight out of 50 seniors who received their bachelor's degree graduated with a 3.2 GPA or higher to earn the department's Academic Merit Award
- Men's soccer junior CJ Tibbling was named first-team Scholar All-American by the United Soccer Coaches, and both Tibbling and senior Andreas Nota were named CoSIDA Academic All-District and are candidates for All-America.
- Men's basketball junior Ike Obiagu was named BIG EAST Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Seton Hall's End-of-Year Cumulative GPA since 2011:
2010-11: 3.174
2011-12: 3.223
2012-13: 3.251
2013-14: 3.290
2014-15: 3.346
2015-16: 3.373
2016-17: 3.376
2017-18: 3.405
2018-19: 3.431
2019-20: 3.464
2020-21: 3.491
