Division I Student-Athletes Achieve Consistent Academic Success
According to a recent report by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Division I student-athletes have maintained a consistent level of academic success, with the national four-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) remaining steady at 984 for a fourth consecutive year. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of student-athletes, as well as the support provided by their schools.
The NCAA reports that national sport averages either increased or held steady, with men’s basketball remaining at 968, and baseball (979), football (964), and women’s basketball (982) all increasing by 1 point from last year’s reported APR scores. These results demonstrate that student-athletes are not only excelling in their respective sports but also prioritising their academic pursuits.
The NCAA also highlighted that many former student-athletes are returning to the classroom to complete their degrees after exhausting their athletics eligibility. In the past 21 years of the Academic Performance Program, nearly 22,000 student-athletes have gone back to school to earn their degrees and APR points for their former team. Notably, more than 11,000 former student-athletes from football (6,428), baseball (2,416), and men’s (1,657) and women’s basketball (761) have returned to college and earned degrees. These student-athletes are typically not counted in the federal graduation rate or Graduation Success Rate calculations.
Dave Schnase, NCAA vice president of academic and membership affairs, praised the academic achievements of student-athletes, stating, "As the college athletics landscape continues to evolve, what remains unchanged is the academic success of student-athletes. We applaud the incredible academic achievements of hundreds of thousands of student-athletes and the support provided by their schools. We are committed to supporting the continued advancement of their academic success and athletic pursuits."
The APR is calculated using a simple and consistent formula, with every Division I sports team’s APR assessed each academic year. Scholarship student-athletes can earn 1 point for staying on course for a degree in their chosen major and 1 point for being retained (or graduating) at the end of each academic term. For schools that do not offer athletics scholarships, recruited student-athletes are tracked.
This is the fourth consecutive year of publicly reported APRs after a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, the Division I board approved the release of APR scores but voted to continue the suspension of program penalties. Normal Academic Performance Program operations with program penalties and loss of access to postseason competition were originally scheduled to resume in spring 2024, but the Division I Committee on Academics decided not to enforce the loss of access to postseason competition for teams that scored lower than 930 last year, instead offering a conditional waiver due to lingering impacts of the pandemic.
However, normal operations are being enforced this year for teams scoring below the 930 benchmark, with strategic penalties that encourage an emphasis and prioritisation on academics. A full list of APRs for each team can be accessed by using the APR searchable database, as reported by the NCAA.
In conclusion, the consistent academic success of Division I student-athletes is a notable achievement that underscores the commitment of student-athletes, schools, and the NCAA to prioritising academic excellence. As reported by the NCAA, the organisation remains dedicated to supporting the continued advancement of student-athletes’ academic success and athletic pursuits.
