Willamette Athletics Celebrates Academic Success

Willamette Athletics Celebrates Academic Success
June 19, 2025

SALEM, Ore. — Willamette University Athletics today announced another strong semester in the classroom for its student-athletes.  The Spring 2025 semester saw Willamette student-athletes achieve a combined departmental GPA of 3.42, demonstrating a collective effort across all sports. This impressive figure highlights the dedication of every student-athlete to their academic pursuits.

Leading the charge in academic excellence, ten Willamette athletic teams recorded a team GPA of 3.50 or higher, setting a new benchmark for scholarly achievement. Furthermore, an impressive 14 teams maintained a GPA of 3.46 or above, showcasing widespread academic strength throughout the department, and every single athletic team at Willamette University achieved a team GPA of 3.16 or higher.

Individual academic accolades were equally impressive:

  • A remarkable 40 student-athletes earned a perfect 4.0 GPA for the Spring 2025 semester.

  • 72 student-athletes achieved a GPA of 3.90 or above.

  • 119 student-athletes posted a GPA above 3.75.

Adding to the celebration, 90 Willamette student-athletes proudly graduated in Spring 2025, earning either undergraduate or postgraduate degrees. Among these graduates, 6 achieved Cum Laude honors, 3 earned Magna Cum Laude, and 3 were recognized with Summa Cum Laude distinctions. These graduates represent the culmination of years of hard work, balancing demanding athletic schedules with rigorous academic coursework.

"Our student-athletes continue to embody the true spirit of collegiate athletics, excelling not only in competition but also in the classroom," said Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Rob Passage. "The academic achievements of our student-athletes this past semester are truly outstanding and reflect their dedication, along with the commitment of our coaches to fostering academic success, and the strong support from our faculty and academic support staff. We are incredibly proud of these accomplishments and congratulate all our student-athletes on a phenomenal academic semester."

Willamette University is committed to the principle that NCAA Division III athletics provides a well-rounded collegiate experience that involves a balance of rigorous academics, competitive athletics, and the opportunity to pursue a multitude of other co-curricular and extracurricular opportunities. The consistent academic success of its athletic program is a direct reflection of this philosophy.