Grade-Point Average Required For Graduation With Distinction
Distinction at graduation is awarded to baccalaureate degree candidates with at least 60 credits (30 credits for associate degree candidates) earned at Penn State who have a minimum of a 3.5 cumulative grade-point average and are in the top 12 percent of a college's graduating class.
The distinction table is created in September for the ensuing fall, spring, and summer semesters, based on the grade-point average information of previous graduates. This 12 percent is then divided as follows:
For Baccalaureate Degrees Conferred, Fall 2008 - Summer 2009
| Distinction | High Distinction | Highest Distinction | |
| Abington College |
3.67 |
3.81 |
3.95 |
| Agricultural Sciences | 3.65 | 3.77 | 3.92 |
| Altoona College |
3.81 |
3.93 |
4.00 |
| Arts and Architecture | 3.74 | 3.83 | 3.94 |
| Bachelor of Philosophy | 3.77 | 3.87 | 3.95 |
| Behrend College | 3.68 | 3.82 | 3.94 |
| Berks College | 3.72 | 3.84 | 3.96 |
| Capital College | 3.84 | 3.92 | 3.99 |
| Communications | 3.72 | 3.81 | 3.91 |
| Earth and Mineral Sciences | 3.76 | 3.87 | 3.95 |
| Eberly College of Science | 3.84 | 3.92 | 3.98 |
| Education | 3.87 | 3.93 | 4.00 |
| Engineering | 3.76 | 3.87 | 3.95 |
| Health & Human Development | 3.78 | 3.87 | 3.95 |
| Information Sciences & Technology | 3.76 | 3.87 | 3.95 |
| Smeal College of Business | 3.73 | 3.83 | 3.94 |
| The Liberal Arts | 3.77 | 3.86 | 3.94 |
| University College | 3.74 | 3.87 | 3.95 |
For All Associate Degrees Conferred, Fall 2008 - Summer 2009
| Distinction | High Distinction | Highest Distinction | |
| 3.74 | 3.88 | 3.97 |