In some ways, Penn State coaches have been losing for years.

Losing athletes to graduation, that is.

Compared to other student-athletes nationally, those at the University graduate at a 12 percent higher rate than the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I average, according to recently released figures.

John Coyle, professor of business administration and faculty athletic representative for Penn State to the Big Ten and NCAA, attributed the high rate to the University's academic standards -- such as the normal progress rule.

The normal progress rule requires athletes, depending on semester standing, to take a certain number of credits per semester.

A recently enacted NCAA mandate requires universities to release student-athlete graduation figures.

Student-athletes must maintain a minimum grade point average of 1.8 after their first year and a 2.0 after their second in order to compete, Coyle said.

In the recent study of the 1983-84 and 1984-85 freshman classes, 63 percent of student-athletes at University Park graduated within six years, compared to a national average of 51 percent.

The survey separated graduation rates into three catagories:

-- "Refined" rates that include freshman and student-athletes who transferred to the University, had athletic aid and earned diplomas in six years. It excludes those who transferred from the institution in good academic standing.

-- "Defined" rates include freshman student-athletes on athletic aid and includes those who left the University in good academic standing as determined by the NCAA.

-- A third rate deals with entering freshman student-athletes on grants-in-aid who used up their eligibility and graduated with no time limitation.

Russ Rose, women's volleyball coach, said coaches do a good job selecting students both academically and athletically capable.

"Nobody wants a quick fix," Rose said, such as a student-athlete who is at the University for only a year before flunking out.

Ellen Perry, associate athletic director, said although students and student-athletes have to be responsible for their degrees, administrators and coaches must also work to balance academics and athletics.

"To be sure that the athletic experience doesn't become so overwhelming that no one has a chance to succeed," Perry said, adding that no new support programs for student-athletes are being considered.

Rose said student-athletes couldn't be forced to study, but should be encouraged to study by coaches and administrators.

"Even if it was 95 percent, I'm not sure it's a situation of Penn State having to do more," Rose said.

The survey also showed that more female student-athletes at the University graduated than male student-athletes.

Female student-athletes graduated at a "defined" rate of 72 percent compared to male student-athletes' "defined" graduation rate of 59 percent.

Coyle said that had to do with less pressure placed on women's athletics to perform at higher levels.

Perry said male student-athletes often have more opportunities to go out and earn a living, such as by becoming professional athletes.

African-American student-athletes at the University also graduated at a "defined" rate of 63 percent, compared to a national graduation rate of 35 percent.