(Tempe, AZ) As announced by the NCAA Tuesday, Arizona State University recorded a multiyear Academic Progress Rate (APR) average of 995 over a four-year period (2017-18 to 2020-21), which is an all-time ASU high and first in the Pac-12, the first time ever leading the conference. Since the 2015-16 academic year, ASU has averaged a 990-plus for each multi-year APR cohort that has been released.
ASU’s single year overall APR score for 2020-21 is 994, which is the highest score in Arizona State history. The national multiyear APR score for all NCAA Division 1 programs is 984.
Sun Devil Football earned a multiyear APR of 983, which is an all-time high for the program and puts them in fourth in the Pac-12. Additionally, men’s basketball earned a second-consecutive perfect 1000, good for first in the conference.
“At the core of Sun Devil Athletics’ mission is the holistic development of our student-athletes. There is no more powerful statement about our commitment to this mission than achieving the top Academic Progress Rate in the Pac-12 conference,” Vice President for University Athletics Ray Anderson said. “Despite some of the recent challenges with COVID, our Office of Student-Athlete Development, in connection with the coaching staffs and the student-athletes themselves, have remained persistent in their pursuit of academic excellence. We commend this groundbreaking level of achievement.”
The public announcement of APRs returned after a one-year hiatus. This spring, the Division I Board of Directors approved the continual suspension of APR penalties for an additional year due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; however, it supported the public release of the APR data.
“Our aspiration has always been to build a comprehensive approach that balances and nurtures ASU student success in the classroom and in competition,” said ASU President Michael M. Crow. “This historic APR reflects our unwavering commitment to that vision, and the tremendous dedication and talent of our student-athletes, faculty and staff whose work made it possible.”
For single year (2020-21) APR scores, 17 of the 23 sports at Arizona State earned a perfect 1000, including 11 of the 13 women’s teams. The Sun Devils also had impressive multiyear APR numbers, with 10 teams earning a perfect score.
Four teams reached all-time multiyear APR highs for their program: football (983), men’s track and field (989), wrestling (1000) and lacrosse (993). There are nine teams who continued streaks of perfect multiyear scores. Men’s golf currently has the longest streak with eight in a row, followed by women’s golf and gymnastics, both with six in a row. Women’s basketball and men’s tennis have four-consecutive perfect multiyear scores, while women’s swimming and diving and beach volleyball are right behind them with three. Finally, men’s basketball and softball are building their streaks, this being their second time in row with a perfect score.
Within the Pac-12, 10 teams were in first place for their APR multiyear averages: men’s basketball, women’s basketball, beach volleyball, men’s golf, women’s golf, gymnastics, softball, women’s swimming and diving, men’s tennis, and wrestling. After being in second place behind Stanford since 2017, Arizona State as a whole took first with its multiyear score of 995.
“When you look at the graph of consistent increasing performance in Academic Process Rate, this is a culminating moment,” Deputy Athletic Director and one-time OSAD director Jean Boyd said. “In our culture, we challenge student-athletes to compete in their academic pursuits every bit as aggressively as they do in their sport. We are competing against some of the most prestigious academic institutions in the country. To reach the ascension point of the number one APR in this conference is the result of a determined resilience to be comprehensively excellent. Andrea Lore and her academic support team have continued to elevate a proven system that along with our coaches and student-athletes produces high academic achievement.”
Since the APR measurement was implemented in 2003, ASU’s average for all sports has increased from its first multiyear score of 937 to its current mark of 995. Since Ray Anderson began at Arizona State, the score has been over 990 each year.
APR tracks the academic progress of each student-athlete, including eligibility, retention, and graduation in the calculation, and provides a clear picture of the current academic culture for each sport as well as department-wide. In 2014, the NCAA Board of Directors implemented a cut score of 930, below which teams will be penalized with loss of postseason competition.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Kimberlie Haner
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