More than 1,500 Penn State World Campus students will graduate during the spring 2024 semester.
Students will receive their Penn State diplomas and graduate during Penn State’s commencement ceremonies on May 3, 4, and 5. Each semester, Penn State World Campus students can attend a commencement ceremony at the campus of their choosing.
The big picture
The spring graduates of the Penn State World Campus Class of 2024 include 1,536 students representing 96 of the more than 175 programs offered online.
- 727 students will receive a bachelor’s degree.
- 717 students will receive a master’s degree.
- 76 students will receive an associate degree.
- 16 students will receive a doctoral degree.
Students in the spring Class of 2024 hail from 47 states and 16 different countries (outside the U.S.) and range in age from 19 to 69. There are 245 graduates with a military affiliation.
Students named marshals for College of the Liberal Arts ceremony
Four Penn State World Campus students will represent their majors as marshals for the College of Liberal Arts. The marshals have the highest grade-point averages among all graduates.
- Sharon Cohen, Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership
- William Dexter Fowler, Bachelor of Science in Organizational and Professional Communication
- Renee Gibson, Bachelor of Science in Integrated Social Sciences
- Jazmin Sorensen, Bachelor of Arts in Law and Society
Sharon Cohen will lead Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership grads during their commencement ceremony. Cohen hopes to work in human resources.
One Liberal Arts student marshal will earn a Bachelor of Science in Organizational and Professional Communication 20 years after he was drafted to Major League Baseball. When William Dexter Fowler accepted his first contract, he pledged to eventually return to school to complete his education.
“My parents always wanted me to go to school, so I promised them I would return,” Fowler said. “My dad negotiated into my contract that I would get four years of school paid for. I’m a man of my word, so I returned to get my degree.”
Renee Gibson will serve as student marshal for the Bachelor of Science in Integrated Social Sciences. She will graduate on the same day as her daughter, who is a University Park student.
“This has all been incredibly surreal. To have taken this long to get my degree and perform now the way I wish I could’ve performed then, it’s like I still don’t quite believe it’s going to happen. I’m extremely excited,” she said of her current Penn State experience.
Jazmin Sorensen will receive a Bachelor of Arts in Law and Society with a minor in political science. After graduation, she hopes to further develop her skills and gain experience in the legal industry.
Graduating with a Penn State degree earned online
Penn State World Campus offers a Penn State education online, with more than 175 degree and certificate programs available in fields such as business, education, and liberal arts.
Graduating Penn State World Campus students can be a part of signature Penn State experiences, such as commencement, just like their peers. The students can choose to attend one of the commencement ceremonies across Penn State’s 24 campuses during graduation weekend.
Penn State World Campus graduates and their families are invited each semester to attend a reception at the University Park campus to recognize their achievements and meet faculty, academic advisers, and other staff who helped them reach this day.