Columbia Makes Splash in Latest NCAA APR Report
5/8/2023 11:01:00 AM | General
A total of 18 programs posted a perfect score of 1,000 in multiyear APRs
NEW YORK — The NCAA released its annual Academic Progress Rate (APR) Tuesday, May 2. A total of 18 Columbia programs registered a perfect 1,000 in the multiyear APR, the highest percentage of perfect scores of any institution in the Ivy League for the second consecutive year.
"We are thrilled that our APR numbers continue to be among the best in the nation and the Ivy League," Campbell Family Director of Intercollegiate Athletics & Physical Education Peter Pilling stated. "These scores show the dedication of our student-athletes, the exceptional support they receive from our Success Through Well-Being staff and the resources Columbia University offers."
The multiyear APR scores for all of Columbia's NCAA-sponsored programs registered a score of 980 or above. Programs are in good standing if it records a multiyear rate of 930 or above. Typically, teams that scored below the benchmark would have to face penalties encouraging an emphasis and prioritization on academics. However, teams falling below the minimum 930 score will not be penalized this year due to the current penalty suspension.
This is the second year of publicly reported APRs after a one-year COVID-19 hiatus. Last spring, the Division I Board of Directors approved the release of APR scores but voted to continue the suspension of program penalties.
The NCAA Academic Progress Rate provides a real-time look at a team's success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete. Each academic year, every Division I sports team across the country calculates its APR using a simple and consistent formula. Each term, scholarship student-athletes can earn 1 point for remaining eligible and 1 point for staying in school or graduating. For schools that do not offer scholarships, recruited student-athletes are tracked.
The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation and measures each team's academic performance. The most recent multiyear APRs are based on scores from the 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 academic years.
The public announcement of APRs returned this year after a one-year hiatus. This spring, the Division I Board of Directors voted to continue to suspend 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.
The Academic Performance Program has established an essential framework for academic excellence. The program provides measurable goals to ensure schools are committed to equipping student-athletes with the tools and resources necessary for academic success.
Additionally, many former student-athletes return to the classroom after exhausting their athletics eligibility to complete their degrees. Over 19 years of the Academic Performance Program, more than 20,700 student-athletes have returned to school to earn their degrees, earning APR points for their former team. These student-athletes are typically not counted in the federal graduation rate or Graduation Success Rate calculations.
