Youngstown State Women's Basketball Posts 4th-Best GPA

Youngstown State's women's basketball team just posted a jaw-dropping 3.820 combined GPA, ranking fourth in the entire nation among college basketball programs. For the fifth time in seven years, these athletes are proving you can dominate in the classroom and on the court.

The achievement is even more impressive considering last year's team included seven freshmen yet still managed the country's third-highest GPA. Head Coach Melissa Jackson says the consistency reflects the program's high standards and her players' genuine commitment to academic excellence.

The numbers tell an incredible story of dedication. Eight players earned perfect 4.0 GPAs during the spring 2026 semester alone, while 10 players finished the academic year with at least a 3.50 cumulative average.

During fall 2025, all 12 student-athletes maintained GPAs above 3.50. Six of them earned perfect 4.0s that semester, showing this wasn't a one-time achievement but a sustained effort throughout the entire year.

This marks the 15th time in 16 years that Youngstown State has landed on the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll. No other program in America can match that consistency, making the Penguins the gold standard for balancing athletics and academics.

The Ripple Effect runs deeper than one team's success. The Horizon League conference claimed three spots in the national top 25, with Green Bay taking first place at a remarkable 3.965 GPA. When excellence becomes the norm, it lifts everyone around you.

Youngstown State has now ranked in the national top 10 nine times since 2011, including a first-place finish in 2023-24. The program has climbed as high as first and has never dropped below 24th when making the list, showing remarkable consistency year after year.

These student-athletes are rewriting what's possible when you refuse to choose between your passions. They're attending practice, traveling for games, and still finding time to excel in demanding coursework that would challenge any full-time student.

Young women everywhere now have 12 more role models showing that dedication and smart time management can help you win at everything you commit to doing.