| 100% | ALDRIN | 6 | Buzz ___, former astronaut and fighter pilot who earned a Doctor of Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| 58% | RICHARD | 7 | ___ Feynman, Nobel-winning physicist who earned a Bachelor of Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| 37% | JONAH | 5 | ___ Peretti, co-founder of BuzzFeed who graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab |
| 33% | ANGELAMERKEL | 12 | German chancellor who earned a doctoral degree in quantum chemistry from the German Academy of Sciences: 2 wds. |
| 33% | ASOK | 4 | Dilbert intern who graduated from the Indian Institutes of Technology |
| 29% | GEORGECLOONEY | 13 | American actor from "Up in the Air" who is a former UN messenger of peace and is a part of the "Not on Our Watch" organization: 2 wds. |
| 29% | GERARD | 6 | With 32-Across, "300" actor who earned a law degree from the University of Glasgow |
| 28% | KRIEGER | 7 | Mike ___, entrepreneur who co-founded Instagram and graduated from Stanford University with a Master of Science |
| 28% | KAREEMABDUL | 11 | ___-Jabbar, the six-time NBA MVP who received an honorary degree from New York Institute of Technology in 2011: 2 wds. |
| 28% | FOYT | 4 | Former racing driver from America, A.J. ___ who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1967 |
| 27% | PHILJACKSON | 11 | Former head coach of the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers who is a practicing Buddhist: 2 wds. |
| 27% | RICHARDNIXON | 12 | Former U.S. president who wrote "In the Arena: A Memoir of Victory, Defeat, and Renewal" (2 wds.) |
| 27% | OBAMA | 5 | Former U.S. president who won a Best Spoken Word Album Grammy Award for the audiobook of "Dreams from My Father" |
| 27% | AEC | 3 | Former U.S. government agency formed for the development of atomic science and technology: Abbr. |
| 27% | THIEL | 5 | Peter ___, German-American entrepreneur who graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Arts and a Juris Doctor |
| 27% | SUSAN | 5 | ___ La Flesche Picotte, doctor and reformer who was the first Native American woman to earn a medical degree |
| 26% | BARACK | 6 | "Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance" author who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 |
| 26% | DWIGHTSCHRUTE | 13 | A character from "The Office" played by Rainn Wilson, who is the nemesis and eventual friend of 42a: 2 wds |
| 26% | SALLY | 5 | ___ Ride, American astronaut who earned a PhD in physics from Stanford University |
| 26% | ANGLE | 5 | Member of a people from north Germany who invaded and settled large parts of England in the 5th and 6th centuries |
| 26% | JERRYSEINFELD | 13 | The lead character from "Seinfeld", who is a semi-fictional version of the actor who plays the role and goes by the same name: 2 wds. |
| 26% | PATCHADAMS | 10 | Doctor who said of Robin Williams, "he was the only actor I wanted to play me, and I think he did a fabulous job." |
| 26% | DAVIES | 6 | Ray and Dave ___, brothers who are a part of the band, The Kinks |
| 25% | EDITOR | 6 | Person who is in charge of and determines the final content of a text |
| 25% | HEYCANIGETALIFT | 15 | Request from someone who needs a ride, or a request that can be made of the starts of 17-, 24-, and 43-Across |
| 25% | PATRICK | 7 | ___ Brewer from "Schitt's Creek" who takes a reluctant David Rose on a hike and proposes to him at the top of the trail |
| 25% | BONO | 4 | U2 singer who is a former Time Person of the Year |
| 25% | AIMECESAIRE | 11 | Poet and intellectual who was a founder of the Négritude movement |
| 25% | BRIELARSON | 10 | Actress who plays the character of Carol Danvers, a former U.S. Air Force pilot in "Captain Marvel": 2 wds. |
| 25% | HAL | 3 | Former fighter pilot Jordan who became the Green Lantern |