TAMPA, Fla. (May 9, 2025) – University of South Florida Athletics programs once again demonstrated their commitment to academic excellence with outstanding Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores across all sports in the latest NCAA Division I report.
The multiyear APR report, which covers the 2020–21 through 2023–24 academic years, shows that all 17 measured USF Athletics programs exceeded the NCAA's benchmark score of 930. Thirteen programs earned perfect or near-perfect scores of 990 or above, with the department's multiyear average reaching 989 — five points above the national four-year average. Thirteen USF programs also surpassed national averages in their respective sports.
Teams earning perfect multiyear APR scores of 1,000 include men's cross country, men's golf, men's tennis, women's basketball, women's golf, and women's tennis. Six programs with perfect multiyear scores mark a new department record for USF Athletics.
Additionally, 11 teams earned perfect single-year APR scores for 2023–24. The department's single-year average of 995 ties the record previously set in 2018–19.
"Our student-athletes continue to set the standard — not just in competition, but in the classroom," said USF Vice President for Athletics Michael Kelly. "When 11 of our programs post perfect APR scores for the year, it's impressive work. This is what it looks like when a university fully commits to comprehensive excellence. We're building champions in every sense of the word, and the results speak for themselves."
Under Kelly's leadership, USF Athletics has maintained a department multiyear APR average of 985 or higher — a level it had not previously reached.
The Academic Progress Rate is a real-time measure of eligibility, retention, and graduation for student-athletes. The NCAA uses it as a key metric to assess academic performance and ensure institutions support student-athlete success annually. Scholarship student-athletes can earn one point for staying on track toward a degree and one point for being retained (or graduating) each semester.
In fall 2024, USF student-athletes earned a department-record 3.46 GPA and extended a streak of 20 consecutive semesters with a GPA above 3.00.
More than 50 USF student-athletes are set to graduate during commencement ceremonies this week.
