Iowa State University Athletics
Iowa State Student-Athletes Shine In Classroom
06.14.2022 | Athletics
Iowa State's student-athletes continue to shine in the classroom, establishing school-records for both multi-year (987) and one-year (990) institutional Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores, according to data compiled by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The multi-year rate is calculated based upon the 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 academic years, while the one-year score was calculated off the 2020-21 academic year.
"Despite the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on their educational experience, Cyclone student-athletes continued to excel academically and athletically, and we are proud of their classroom achievements during this challenging time period," said ISU Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard. "I believe that our APR scores are a direct reflection of the outstanding job our coaches do in creating a culture that emphasizes academic and athletic success.
"Our academic services team does a tremendous job providing resources and support for our student-athletes, and Iowa State's outstanding faculty and staff also continue to play a key role in the academic success of Cyclone student-athletes," he added.
Ten of the Cyclones' 16 programs in which APR is tracked by the NCAA improved their year-over-year multi-year scores--men's cross country (990), football (986), wrestling (986), women's basketball (990), women's golf (990), women's gymnastics (995), soccer (996), softball (990) and volleyball (989); while an 11th, men's golf, registered a perfect multi-year rate of 1,000 for the fourth-consecutive year. All-told, 11 programs are above the national average for their respective sport.
ISU's football and men's golf programs led the Big 12 Conference in multi-year APR, while its wrestling and women's swimming teams ranked second with women's basketball, women's gymnastics and women's soccer checking in third.
Iowa State's multi-year institutional APR average of 987 ranked third in the Big 12 behind Texas and West Virginia, both of whom registered 989 marks. It marked the sixth-straight year that ISU's multi-year APR score set a new school-record and was one point higher than the previous record of 986 in both 2017-18 and 2018-19. Baylor (984), Kansas State (983), Kansas (981), Texas Tech (981), TCU (980), Oklahoma (979) and Oklahoma State (977) rounded out the Big 12 rankings.
Nine Cyclone teams had perfect single-season APR marks of 1,000—men's cross country, men's golf, wrestling, women's basketball, women's golf, softball, women's swimming, women's tennis and volleyball. ISU's single-year average of 990 broke the school record of 988 set 2016-17, and it marked the third-straight year that a school-record nine Cyclone programs recorded perfect APR marks.
The public announcement of APRs by the NCAA returned 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.
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 18 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. Last year, APR data was not released publicly, and penalties were not assessed.
Iowa State's Multi-Year APR Scores (2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 Academic Years):
Men's Programs:Â Basketball:Â 948; Cross Country:Â 990; Football:Â 986; Golf:Â 1,000; Outdoor Track & Field:Â 971; Wrestling:Â 986.
Women's Programs:Â Basketball:Â 990; Cross Country:Â 986; Golf:Â 990; Gymnastics:Â 995; Soccer:Â 996; Softball:Â 990; Swimming:Â 996; Tennis:Â 985; Outdoor Track & Field:Â 988; Volleyball:Â 989.
