UI Scores High Again in NCAA Academic Report

June 10, 2010

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Paced by its men’s cross country and field hockey teams – each with perfect scores of 1,000 for the second straight year – all 24 of the intercollegiate athletics program at the University of Iowa are achieving at a rate that surpasses the national benchmark established by the NCAA, according to data released yesterday by the National Collegiate Athletics Association.

As announced last month, Iowa’s men’s cross country and field hockey teams each posted perfect scores of 1,000 in this year’s Academic Progress Rate (APR). The UI’s softball program also ranked in the upper 90 percentile of its peers with an APR of 996. The UI’s men’s tennis (995), women’s golf (992), women’s tennis (991) and volleyball teams (990) also earned APR scores of 990 or greater.

In addition, the report indicated that 17 UI programs are achieving academically at a rate that is better than their peers in the Football Bowl Subdivision and 20 UI programs are outpacing their peers at public institutions nationwide.

The report also revealed that Iowa’s highest profile sports compare well against their peers. The APR scores for the UI’s football (945), men’s basketball (948), women’s basketball (969) and wrestling (959) teams all are better than the average for comparable teams at public institutions.

“First and foremost, I applaud the efforts of our student-athletes. This report confirms their commitment to academic success. The report also confirms the UI’s commitment to that piece of our student-athlete experience and provides an opportunity to recognize the outstanding work of the support staff and faculty who have contributed to this success,” said Gary Barta, the UI’s director of intercollegiate athletics.

Every NCAA Division I sports program calculates its APR each academic year. The calculation is based on the eligibility, retention, and graduation of each scholarship student-athlete. Teams that score below 925 on their four-year rate and have a student-athlete leave their institution academically ineligible can lose up to 10 percent of their scholarships through immediate penalties.

According to the NCAA, the overall multi-year Division I APR is 967, up three points from last year. In the high-profile sports, football’s average four-year APR is 944, up five points over last year and men’s basketball is 940, up seven points.The APR, now in its sixth year, also reveals fewer student-athletes are leaving school ineligible, while more than 7,000 student-athletes have returned to campus and earned their degrees in the past six years.

“We remain committed to the core idea that today’s Hawkeyes are tomorrow’s leaders. The opportunity for academic success is always available at the UI for those student-athletes who sieze that opportunity,” said Fred Mims, the UI associate athletics director for student services and compliance.

Women’s Sports ProgramsBasketball969 40th percentile within sport 971 – All Division ICross Country985 60th percentile within sport 971 – All Division IField Hockey1,000 90th percentile within sport 985 – All Division IGolf992 60th percentile within sport 976 – All Division IGymnastics976 20th percentile within sport 983 – All Division IRowing973 10th percentile within sport 984 – All Division ISoccer975 30th percentile within sport 973 – All Division ISoftball996 90th percentile within sport 979 – All Division ISwimming985 50th percentile within sport 979 – All Division ITennis991 70th percentile within sport 974 – All Division IIndoor Track979 60th percentile within sport 965 – All Division IOutdoor Track987 80th percentile within sport 966 – All Division I

Volleyball990 70th percentile within sport 972 – All Division I