Bears Post Another Record Year in the Classroom
6/8/2026 9:13:00 AM | Athletics Department
MACON - Another record-breaking academic year is in the books for Mercer Athletics, as the department's 18 varsity teams posted a cumulative 3.546 grade point average (GPA), with 13 squads achieving a 3.5 GPA or higher across the 2025-2026 academic year. With more than 400 scholar-athletes, the department has now established school-record GPAs in each of the last two years after tallying a 3.49 mark across the 2024-25 academic year. Mercer's scholar-athletes also closed out Fall 2025 with a record 3.539 semester GPA and raised the bar even higher during the Spring 2026 term with a 3.549.
"At Mercer, everyone majors in changing the world, and our scholar-athletes prove it every day – on the field, in the classroom and in the community," said Mercer University President Dr. Penny L. Elkins. "When you see teams earning a 3.5 GPA or better while competing at the highest levels both academically and athletically, you are witnessing the kind of excellence and commitment that defines what it means to be a Mercer Bear. These scholar-athletes understand that success is not one-dimensional, and I could not be prouder of what they continue to accomplish."
The men's cross country team carried the torch for Mercer in 2025-26 with an impressive 3.805 team GPA, while three other teams – women's cross country (3.776), softball (3.772) and men's tennis (3.733) – registered a cumulative number above the 3.7 plateau. All 18 programs carried at least a 3.211 team GPA.
On the individual side, more than 250 scholar-athletes maintained a 3.5 GPA or better across both semesters, including 48 that boasted a perfect 4.0.
"I am incredibly proud of what our scholar-athletes were able to accomplish inside the classroom this year," said Mercer athletics director Jim Cole. "It is a testament to their tireless work ethic, resilience and academic dedication that we continue to compete at the highest levels. I also want to give credit to our outstanding coaches, Student-Athlete Support Services and campus partners for their efforts in providing our scholar-athletes with all of the necessary resources to position themselves for success."
Twenty-four scholar-athletes across six sports have already been recognized on College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District teams during the 2025-26 athletic season, with 17 more expected to rake in that accolade over the next month when the CSC's at-large, baseball and cross country/track & field are announced.
Football's Xavier Jennings became the 23rd student-athlete in the history of Mercer Athletics to be named to the CSC Academic All-America squad in January.
Â
Â
"At Mercer, everyone majors in changing the world, and our scholar-athletes prove it every day – on the field, in the classroom and in the community," said Mercer University President Dr. Penny L. Elkins. "When you see teams earning a 3.5 GPA or better while competing at the highest levels both academically and athletically, you are witnessing the kind of excellence and commitment that defines what it means to be a Mercer Bear. These scholar-athletes understand that success is not one-dimensional, and I could not be prouder of what they continue to accomplish."
The men's cross country team carried the torch for Mercer in 2025-26 with an impressive 3.805 team GPA, while three other teams – women's cross country (3.776), softball (3.772) and men's tennis (3.733) – registered a cumulative number above the 3.7 plateau. All 18 programs carried at least a 3.211 team GPA.
On the individual side, more than 250 scholar-athletes maintained a 3.5 GPA or better across both semesters, including 48 that boasted a perfect 4.0.
"I am incredibly proud of what our scholar-athletes were able to accomplish inside the classroom this year," said Mercer athletics director Jim Cole. "It is a testament to their tireless work ethic, resilience and academic dedication that we continue to compete at the highest levels. I also want to give credit to our outstanding coaches, Student-Athlete Support Services and campus partners for their efforts in providing our scholar-athletes with all of the necessary resources to position themselves for success."
Twenty-four scholar-athletes across six sports have already been recognized on College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District teams during the 2025-26 athletic season, with 17 more expected to rake in that accolade over the next month when the CSC's at-large, baseball and cross country/track & field are announced.
Football's Xavier Jennings became the 23rd student-athlete in the history of Mercer Athletics to be named to the CSC Academic All-America squad in January.
Â
| Â Â About Mercer University |
| Founded in 1833, Mercer University is a dynamic and comprehensive center of undergraduate, graduate and professional education. With 9,000 students enrolled in 12 schools and colleges, on major campuses in Macon and Atlanta; medical school sites in Macon, Savannah and Columbus; and at regional academic centers in Henry and Douglas counties, Mercer is ranked among the top tier and best values of national research universities by U.S. News & World Report. The Mercer Health Sciences Center includes the University's School of Medicine and Colleges of Nursing, Health Professions and Pharmacy. Mercer is affiliated with six teaching hospitals – Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center and Piedmont Macon Medical Center in Macon; Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah; Piedmont Columbus Regional Hospital and St. Francis-Emory Healthcare in Columbus; and SGMC Health in Valdosta. The University also has an educational partnership with Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins. It operates an academic press and a performing arts center in Macon and an engineering research center in Warner Robins. Mercer Medicine, the clinical faculty practice of the School of Medicine, is based in Macon and operates additional clinics in Sumter, Clay, Putnam, Harris, Taylor and Glynn counties. Mercer is one of only 293 institutions nationwide to shelter a chapter of The Phi Beta Kappa Society, the nation's most prestigious academic honor society; one of eight institutions to hold membership in the Georgia Research Alliance; and the only private university in Georgia to field an NCAA Division I athletic program. For more information, visit www.mercer.edu. |
Â
Sunday, May 10
Saturday, May 09
Saturday, May 09
Sunday, May 03
