The NCAA today recognized more than 1,200 Division I teams for outstanding academic achievements.
Based on their most recent multiyear Academic Progress Rates, these teams have earned NCAA Public Recognition Awards for posting scores in the top 10 percent of their sport. The APR is an annual scorecard of academic achievement calculated for all Division I sports teams.
This year, 1,203 teams are being recognized for academic performance: 746 women’s teams and 457 men’s teams or co-ed teams. The total number of teams being recognized increased by 132 from a year ago, largely as a result of an increase in perfect scores. Scores for programs in the top 10 percent ranged from 984 to a perfect 1,000, with 1,090 teams earning a perfect score.
Though the academic year is still ongoing and many NCAA championships have yet to take place, seven national champions already are included in this year’s award list: California men’s water polo; Notre Dame fencing; Oklahoma women’s gymnastics; Penn State wrestling; South Carolina women’s basketball; Stanford women’s volleyball; and West Virginia rifle.
A total of 306 schools had teams recognized with Public Recognition Awards.
“NCAA student-athletes and schools continue to achieve unprecedented levels of academic success,” said Mark Emmert, NCAA president. “We commend these programs for their commitment to academic excellence and dedication to preparing student-athletes for life after college.”
Brown and Dartmouth led the way with 19 teams each earning Public Recognition Awards, and Holy Cross followed with 18 teams. By percentage, Holy Cross led with 75 percent of its teams receiving recognition, followed by Gonzaga and Dartmouth with 73.3 and 73.1 percent of teams, respectively.
The Ivy League was the top scoring conference in both number of teams and percentage of teams honored, with 106 (or 47.7 percent), followed by the Patriot League with 97 (45.8 percent) and the Atlantic Coast Conference with 88 (29.3 percent).
APR scores for all Division I teams will be released May 10. The APR measures eligibility, graduation and retention each semester or academic term and provides a clear picture of the academic performance for each team in every sport. All teams must meet an academic threshold of 930 to qualify for the postseason and can face penalties for continued low academic performance.
The most recent APRs are multiyear rates based on scores from the 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 academic years.
Click here for the list of 93 teams that have earned Public Recognition Awards every year of the 12-year-old program.
