| 100% | ESSE | 4 | To be, for students of 17-Across |
| 56% | LURID | 5 | Student of university is free to be sensational |
| 55% | KNUCKLEBALLER | 13 | Term for the type of pitcher 17- and 39-Across are |
| 55% | CAROL | 5 | Orca trained to be student of song |
| 53% | BINGCROSBY | 10 | Crooner who sings "I've Got Plenty to Be Thankful For" in the Thanksgiving scene of 17-Across (2 wds.) |
| 53% | USSR | 4 | Georgia used to be part of it, for short |
| 52% | ROBERTFROST | 11 | 17-Across and 26-Across writer who is the only person to win four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry (2 wds.) |
| 51% | FASHIONDESIGNER | 15 | One can be found in each of the answers to 17-, 24-, 54- and 63-Across |
| 51% | ARKHAM | 6 | With 33-Across, institution for the criminally insane that is central to the plot of "Gotham" |
| 51% | MISSYOU | 7 | *Text to someone who's been away for a while [Opposite of 17-Across?] |
| 51% | JASONALDEAN | 11 | 17-Across and 30-Across country singer who was named ACM's Artist of the Decade for the 2010s (2 wds.) |
| 51% | IMMORAL | 7 | What some consider you to be for not adhering to the laws of the Torah or Quran |
| 50% | USO | 3 | Operator of 17-Across, for short |
| 50% | DRIVERS | 7 | ___ Ed, school elective subject for students who are looking to get their license |
| 50% | DESK | 4 | Piece of furniture for a student to sit at |
| 50% | HANDS | 5 | Two of these are needed to type every answer here except 17- & 59-Across and 11- & 27-Down |
| 50% | BLUEZONES | 9 | Geographic regions known for the longevity of their residents, and what 17-, 25-, 39-, and 55-Across are? |
| 49% | CLEARTHEAIR | 11 | Talk things out . . . or what to do to make sense of the clues for 17-, 27-, and 44-Across |
| 49% | KARYNPARSONS | 12 | Actress who played the snobbish cousin of 17-Across in "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," which is rumored to be getting a reunion: 2 wds. |
| 49% | COMETOTERMS | 11 | Reach an agreement ... and what the first words of 17, 32, and 45 Across are? |
| 49% | ARE | 3 | To be for you? |
| 48% | MIDDLEC | 7 | Starting point for a piano student, or a phonetic hint to 17-, 18-, 22-, 33-, 41-, 49- and 55-Across |
| 48% | SOW | 3 | What Tears for Fears will do to "The Seeds of Love" |
| 48% | TWISTEDMIND | 11 | Trait for an evil genius ... and a hint to what can literally be found in 17-, 23-, 39- and 51-Across |
| 48% | CUTALONGTHEDOTTEDLINE | 21 | Start of instructions for what to do when this puzzle is done |
| 48% | RATIO | 5 | Pi is one, for the circumference of a circle to its diameter |
| 47% | AMT | 3 | Sum of money to be paid, for short |
| 47% | TIKTOK | 6 | App said to be partially responsible for the mega-success of “Old Town Road” and “Truth Hurts” |
| 47% | LODE | 4 | Deposit of 17 Across |
| 47% | EGOISTS | 7 | More of 17 Across |