Penn State and Robinhood Team Up to Boost Student-Athletes’ Financial Literacy
The Penn State College of Education has received a four-year, $320,000 grant from Robinhood to create new financial literacy courses for NCAA Division I student-athletes. The
program, part of Robinhood’s Money Drills initiative, will be offered through Penn State’s Sokolov-Miller Family Financial and Life Skills Center.
Empowering Student-Athletes with Financial Knowledge
These new courses aim to teach student-athletes how to manage money, plan for the future, and make informed financial decisions. Hyung Joon Yoon, associate professor of workforce education and development and principal investigator for the grant, said the initiative recognizes the unique financial needs of student-athletes.
“Whether they’re managing scholarships or planning professional sports careers, our athletes need tailored financial education,” said Yoon. “This program will prepare them for success during and after college.”
Collaboration for Career and Life Success
The Sokolov-Miller Center will work with Penn State’s Workforce Education and Development (WFED) program, the Morgan Academic Center, and Student-Athlete Development and Enrichment. Courses will cover budgeting, personal finance, and long-term financial planning. Career development modules will help student-athletes design career roadmaps, using Penn State’s existing WFED 119 Career Planning and Life Design framework.
Flexible and Practical Learning
To fit demanding athletic schedules, the courses will use WFED’s “Dynamically Dated” model, blending classroom sessions, online learning, and independent study.
Eric J. Bergstrom, co-investigator, explained, “We’re combining flexible scheduling with real-world application so student-athletes can learn without sacrificing their sport.”
The grant runs from January 2026 through December 2029, with pilot courses launching in spring 2026.
