UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State student athletes continue to excel in the classroom and surpass Division I national averages, according to Academic Progress Rate (APR) data released today by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
The NCAA reported that a school-record 20 Penn State teams earned perfect APR scores of 1,000 during the 2018-19 academic year, an increase of seven from the previous year. Penn State’s all-sport APR average for 2018-19 was 990, which meets one of the academic achievement unit benchmarks for the NCAA.
“Balancing a full academic schedule, demanding daily practices, service work, and fierce competitions is the challenge for student-athletes, and it’s incredibly difficult,” said Penn State President Eric Barron. “The APR scores are evidence of the discipline, commitment to excellence, and the dedication to success that is practiced by our student-athletes and reinforced by the coaches, faculty, advisors and staff who support them. Congratulations on another exceptional year!”
A total of 22 teams, out of 29, equaled or surpassed their four-year APR score from the 2019 NCAA APR report, an increase of three from last year. Eight squads have a multi-year APR that is at least 10 points higher than the Division I sport average.
“Our Penn State student athletes never cease to amaze me in their dedication to academics, as well as their performance in athletic venues,” stated Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Sandy Barbour.
“I am so proud and appreciative of the commitment our students make to ensure they have the complete student-athlete experience and are prepared to have a lifetime of impact," Barbour said. "We would not be in position to have 20 teams with a perfect yearly APR score without the collective efforts of our coaches, Morgan Academic Center staff, faculty and support staff. I could not be more thankful for their contributions to our academic success.”
Six teams post perfect multi-year 1,000 APR scores
Six Penn State squads -- three more than last year -- earned perfect multi-year (2015-16 through 2018-19) APR scores of 1,000: women’s cross country, women’s fencing, men’s golf, women’s golf, men’s hockey and women’s track and field. The women’s cross country team has delivered a perfect multi-year APR score in nine of the 15 years the NCAA has released APR data. The women’s golf team has posted a multi-year 1,000 APR score seven times.
The men’s hockey team earned a multi-year APR score of 1,000 for the first time to become the 16th different Nittany Lion squad to post at least one perfect 1,000 APR score.
School-record 20 teams earn perfect 1,000 APR Scores in 2018-19; football posts first single-year 1,000 APR score
The 20 Penn State teams that earned perfect APR score of 1,000 in 2018-19 were: women’s basketball; men’s cross country; women’s cross country; women’s fencing; field hockey; football; men’s golf; women’s golf; men’s gymnastics; women’s gymnastics; men’s hockey; women’s hockey; men’s lacrosse; women’s lacrosse; men’s volleyball; softball; women’s swimming and diving; women’s tennis; women’s track and field; and women’s volleyball.
The football team posted its first 1,000 single-year APR in program history, topping the previous high of 993 in 2014-15. The women’s cross country, women’s fencing, men’s golf, women’s golf and women’s track and field teams have perfect 1,000 yearly APR scores in four consecutive reports.