Iowa State Media Relations
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State’s student-athletes continue to have success in the classroom, matching the school record for multi-year (987) and posting a one-year (987) institutional Academic Progress Rate (APR) score, according to data compiled by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The multi-year rate is calculated based upon the 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic years, while the one-year score was off the 2021-22 academic year.
Ten of Iowa State’s 16 programs are above the national multi-year average – men’s cross country (990), football (987), men’s golf (1,000), men’s track (976), wrestling (995), women’s basketball (995), softball (994), women’s swimming (996), women’s track (988) and volleyball (1,000).
Six programs – football, men’s golf, wrestling, women’s basketball, swimming and diving and volleyball either led or tied for the lead in the Big 12 Conference.
ISU’s multi-year institutional APR average of 987 ranked third in the Big 12 behind only Texas and West Virginia, both of whom registered 990 marks. It marked the seventh-straight year that ISU’s multi-year APR score either set or matched a new school-record. Baylor (984), Kansas State (983), Kansas (982), Oklahoma State (981), Texas Tech (979), TCU (977) and Oklahoma (977) rounded out the Big 12 rankings.
Seven Iowa State teams have perfect single-year scores – men’s golf, women’s basketball, women’s cross country, swimming and diving, tennis, women’s track and field and volleyball.
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 Academic Performance Program has established an essential framework for academic excellence. The program provides measurable goals to ensure schools are fulfilling their commitment of equipping student-athletes with the tools and resources necessary to achieve academic success.
Throughout 19 years of the Academic Performance Program, more than 20,000 student-athletes have gone back to school to earn their degrees – earning points for their former team. These student-athletes are typically not counted in the federal graduation rate or Graduation Success Rate calculations.
The minimum APR academic standard for each team is 930. Typically, teams that scored below the benchmark would have to face penalties that encourage an emphasis and prioritization on academics. However, due to the current penalty suspension in place, teams will not be subjected to penalties this year.
Iowa State’s Multi-Year APR Scores (2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 Academic Years):
Men’s Programs: Basketball: 946; Cross Country: 990; Football: 987; Golf: 1,000; Outdoor Track and Field: 976.
Women’s Programs: Basketball: 995; Cross Country: 985; Golf: 980; Gymnastics: 990; Soccer: 984; Softball: 994; Swimming and Diving: 996; Tennis: 984; Outdoor Track and Field: 988; Volleyball: 1,000.