TEMPE, Ariz.—Arizona State University recorded an Academic Progress Rate (APR) average of 985, the NCAA Announced on Wednesday. This year’s data represents student-athlete’s percentage of eligibility and retention rate for all sports from 2011-12 through 2014-15.
The mark is one tenth of a percent behind the department’s all-time high of 986, which was reached last year. Arizona State ranks fifth in the Pac-12 Conference, just four-tenths of a percent outside of second place. ASU’s single year APR for all sports for 2014-15 of 987 is an all-time high.
“Since the APR was instituted by the NCAA in 2003-04, our numbers have seen continued improvement across each of our sports, a direct result of the work being done by our Office of Student-Athlete Development,” Vice President for University Athletics Ray Anderson said. “With OSAD’s leadership, the support from our faculty, staff, coaching staffs, and sport administrators, our student-athletes have continued to make strides not only in their respective sports, but more importantly in the classroom.”
Baseball, men’s golf, women’s tennis, and women’s volleyball were recognized last week for their rank in the nation’s top-10 percentile in their respective sports. The single year APR data shows that nine of ASU’s 19 sports achieved a single-year score of 1000 (100%).
Football’s APR scores continue to improve under Coach Todd Graham’s watch, this year rising to an all-time high 960, including a single-year APR of 990 for the 2014-15 roster, which is third in the Pac-12 for that year.
“Sun Devil Athletics continues to strive for elite performance academically,” Senior Associate Athletic Director for the Office Of Student-Athlete Development and Performance Jean Boyd said. “The four-year average Academic Progress Rate for all sports this year is 985, four-tenths of a percent behind second place in the Pac-12, and our 2014-15 single year APR for all student-athletes is an all-time high of 987. Since the APR is a predictor of graduation, we remain on track to meet or exceed our goal of a 90-percent Graduation Success Rate in the near future.”
Since the APR measurement began in 2003-04, ASU’s average for all sports increased from 937 to 986 (2013-14). In fall of 2015, ASU announced an all-time high GSR of 84-percent.
Arizona State’s APR Highlights:
• Arizona State’s single-year APR for all sports is 987, an all-time high for the department.
• Coach Sheila McInerney has lead the women’s tennis team to 11 straight years of 1000 (100%) and 28 straight years of NCAA post-season competition.
• Additionally, women’s tennis is the only team among the Division I Power Five conferences that has recorded perfect APR scores for the lifetime of the metric. It is also the only perfect-scoring program in the Pac-12.
• This is the baseball program’s second year at 1000 (100%), and the second consecutive year at the top of both the Pac-12 Conference and NCAA.
• Men’s golf’s 1000 (100%) APR is tied for best in both the Pac-12 Conference and the NCAA.
• Men’s basketball multi-year score of 990 ranks third in the Pac-12 Conference.
• Gymnastics scored an all-time high multi-year APR score of 995.
• Women’s swimming and diving’s multi-year APR score of 994 leads the Pac-12 Conference.
• Volleyball 1000 (100%) APR score tied for best in both the Pac-12 Conference and the NCAA in each of the last three years.
The APR provides a real-time look at a team’s academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete. The APR includes eligibility, retention and graduation in the calculation. It provides a clear picture of the current academic culture in each sport.
The APR awards points to student-athletes who meet academic eligibility standards (such as satisfactory progress, GPA and percentage of degree) and who remain with the institution (retention). In 2014, a 930 cut score was implemented by the NCAA Board of Directors. This year, any sport below this mark will be penalized with the loss of post-season competition.
“The primary goal of the APR measurement is to improve academic performance of athletic teams, provide academic accountability of student-athletes and ultimately increase graduation rates,” Anderson said.