University Southern California Trojans
USC Sets New APR Record In 2024 With 15 Teams Improving Or Equaling Their Scores
June 06, 2024 | USC Athletics, Student-Athlete Academic Services
USC Athletics achieves another new department record with a 991 Academic Progress Rate.
LOS ANGELES — USC Athletics has set another new department record in earning a multiyear 2024 NCAA Academic Progress Rate of 991 thanks to 15 of its 21 sports earning scores equal to or improved from 2023, according to data that was released today (June 4).
Among the 15 Trojan sports equaling or exceeding their previous scores, nine teams set or equaled their all-time best APR, and 19 USC squads had an APR that was above or equal to the national Division I average for their sport.
A team's APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation to generate a measure of academic performance. Each year, the APR creates a snapshot of a team's academic success as it tracks the progress of each student-athlete on scholarship. The 2024 APR is a multiyear rate based on scores from the 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 academic years. APR scores below 930 lead to penalties that include practice restrictions, playing season reductions and postseason ineligibility. The NCAA began tracking APR in 2004-05.
"I continue to be so inspired by the outstanding academic achievements of our student-athletes," Director of Athletics Jennifer Cohen said. "This record-setting APR displays the incredible dedication of our coaches, staff and student-athletes and the shared commitment to USC's standards of academic excellence. I'd like to recognize Dr. Denise Kwok, Heather Bell and our entire academic team for the important work they do helping our student-athletes excel in the classroom and preparing them for life after college."
USC's 2024 APR score of 991 is a new department high and continues the Trojans' upward overall trajectory. It follows last year's record-setting tally of 990, which was an improvement from 988 in 2022. The NCAA did not release its annual scorecard of academic achievement for all Division I teams in 2021, taking a one-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
"Amongst the changing landscape of college athletics, we are especially pleased with the continued success of our student-athletes in the classroom," USC Associate Athletic Director, for Student-Athlete Academic Services Heather Bell said. "This record-breaking achievement demonstrates our student-athletes' work ethic and dedication to their academic goals and the support of our Student-Athlete Academic Services staff, campus partners, coaches and faculty. Our shared commitment to student-athlete well-being and to cultivating a culture of excellence ensures student-athletes are equipped with the resources necessary to thrive at USC and beyond. We are proud of our student-athletes' academic accomplishments and look forward to watching their continued growth at USC and to celebrating their many future successes."
Eighteen Trojan teams had at least a 990 APR, including seven at 1,000 (men's basketball, beach volleyball, cross country, women's golf, women's tennis, women's track & field and women's volleyball). It was the 10th consecutive ranking that women's cross country has hit the 1,000 mark, while women's golf did so for the eighth straight time and women's track & field for the third time in a row. Three teams — men's basketball, women's tennis and women's volleyball — recorded 1,000 for the second straight year, while beach volleyball was at 1,000 for the sixth time in seven all-time rankings since the sport's inception at USC.
Besides those seven squads that recorded a perfect 1,000 mark, the 11 other USC teams this year with at least a 990 APR were women's soccer (998), men's track & field (996), women's water polo (996), baseball (994), women's swimming & diving (994), men's volleyball (992), men's water polo (992), men's swimming & diving (990), men's tennis (992), lacrosse (991), and rowing (991).
USC's 15 programs that equaled or exceeded their APR score from 2023 were: women's water polo (+10), women's basketball (+5), baseball (+4), football (+4), men's golf (+2), lacrosse (+2), soccer (+1), men's basketball (same), cross country (same), women's golf (same), beach volleyball (same), women's swimming & diving (same), women's tennis (same), women's track & field (same), and women's volleyball (same).
The nine teams that set or equaled all-time high APRs were: men's basketball (1,000), beach volleyball (1,000), cross country (1,000), women's golf (1,000), women's swimming & diving (1,000), women's tennis (1,000), women's track & field (1,000), women's volleyball (1,000) and football (976). Football's new all-time high of 976 is four points better than the program's previous best. The other eight teams have matched their all-time highs of 1,000.
USC's 19 teams whose multiyear APR exceeded or equaled the national Division I average for their sport were: baseball, men's basketball, football, men's swimming & diving, men's tennis, men's track & field, men's volleyball, men's water polo, women's basketball, cross country, rowing, women's golf, soccer, beach volleyball, women's swimming & diving, women's tennis, women's track & field, women's volleyball and women's water polo.
No USC sport was close to the NCAA APR of 930 that leads to penalties. In fact, all USC teams were at least 46 points above that baseline standard. USC's NCAA Graduation Success Rate — announced in December 2023 — stayed at an all-time high of 93 percent for the second straight year.
Among the 15 Trojan sports equaling or exceeding their previous scores, nine teams set or equaled their all-time best APR, and 19 USC squads had an APR that was above or equal to the national Division I average for their sport.
A team's APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation to generate a measure of academic performance. Each year, the APR creates a snapshot of a team's academic success as it tracks the progress of each student-athlete on scholarship. The 2024 APR is a multiyear rate based on scores from the 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 academic years. APR scores below 930 lead to penalties that include practice restrictions, playing season reductions and postseason ineligibility. The NCAA began tracking APR in 2004-05.
"I continue to be so inspired by the outstanding academic achievements of our student-athletes," Director of Athletics Jennifer Cohen said. "This record-setting APR displays the incredible dedication of our coaches, staff and student-athletes and the shared commitment to USC's standards of academic excellence. I'd like to recognize Dr. Denise Kwok, Heather Bell and our entire academic team for the important work they do helping our student-athletes excel in the classroom and preparing them for life after college."
USC's 2024 APR score of 991 is a new department high and continues the Trojans' upward overall trajectory. It follows last year's record-setting tally of 990, which was an improvement from 988 in 2022. The NCAA did not release its annual scorecard of academic achievement for all Division I teams in 2021, taking a one-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
"Amongst the changing landscape of college athletics, we are especially pleased with the continued success of our student-athletes in the classroom," USC Associate Athletic Director, for Student-Athlete Academic Services Heather Bell said. "This record-breaking achievement demonstrates our student-athletes' work ethic and dedication to their academic goals and the support of our Student-Athlete Academic Services staff, campus partners, coaches and faculty. Our shared commitment to student-athlete well-being and to cultivating a culture of excellence ensures student-athletes are equipped with the resources necessary to thrive at USC and beyond. We are proud of our student-athletes' academic accomplishments and look forward to watching their continued growth at USC and to celebrating their many future successes."
Eighteen Trojan teams had at least a 990 APR, including seven at 1,000 (men's basketball, beach volleyball, cross country, women's golf, women's tennis, women's track & field and women's volleyball). It was the 10th consecutive ranking that women's cross country has hit the 1,000 mark, while women's golf did so for the eighth straight time and women's track & field for the third time in a row. Three teams — men's basketball, women's tennis and women's volleyball — recorded 1,000 for the second straight year, while beach volleyball was at 1,000 for the sixth time in seven all-time rankings since the sport's inception at USC.
Besides those seven squads that recorded a perfect 1,000 mark, the 11 other USC teams this year with at least a 990 APR were women's soccer (998), men's track & field (996), women's water polo (996), baseball (994), women's swimming & diving (994), men's volleyball (992), men's water polo (992), men's swimming & diving (990), men's tennis (992), lacrosse (991), and rowing (991).
USC's 15 programs that equaled or exceeded their APR score from 2023 were: women's water polo (+10), women's basketball (+5), baseball (+4), football (+4), men's golf (+2), lacrosse (+2), soccer (+1), men's basketball (same), cross country (same), women's golf (same), beach volleyball (same), women's swimming & diving (same), women's tennis (same), women's track & field (same), and women's volleyball (same).
The nine teams that set or equaled all-time high APRs were: men's basketball (1,000), beach volleyball (1,000), cross country (1,000), women's golf (1,000), women's swimming & diving (1,000), women's tennis (1,000), women's track & field (1,000), women's volleyball (1,000) and football (976). Football's new all-time high of 976 is four points better than the program's previous best. The other eight teams have matched their all-time highs of 1,000.
USC's 19 teams whose multiyear APR exceeded or equaled the national Division I average for their sport were: baseball, men's basketball, football, men's swimming & diving, men's tennis, men's track & field, men's volleyball, men's water polo, women's basketball, cross country, rowing, women's golf, soccer, beach volleyball, women's swimming & diving, women's tennis, women's track & field, women's volleyball and women's water polo.
No USC sport was close to the NCAA APR of 930 that leads to penalties. In fact, all USC teams were at least 46 points above that baseline standard. USC's NCAA Graduation Success Rate — announced in December 2023 — stayed at an all-time high of 93 percent for the second straight year.
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