NCAA Academic Progress Rates Show Most FSU Sports Excel, Football Trending Down

The NCAA recently released the Academic Progress Rate’s (APR) for the 2015-2016 year. The data shows that 13 of the 18 FSU sports teams scored a perfect 1000 in 2016. Also, the data shows that three FSU sports teams received Public Recognition Awards. These teams are Women’s Cross Country, Women’s Golf, and Women’s Tennis. The NCAA annually honors teams earning multiyear Academic Progress Rates in the top 10 percent of all squads in each sport.

However, the FSU Football took a major dive in the APR and finished last in the Atlantic Coast Conference and last among teams in the Power Five conferences.

The table below shows the four-year APR rate and the 2016 APR for all FSU sports. A full searchable list can be found here.

The NCAA has been tracking APR for 12 years. It is a tool used to establish a baseline academic standard. The rating factors in eligibility, retention and graduation of each scholarship athlete. The NCAA penalizes teams with an APR of 930 or below with sanctions, which can include loss of postseason eligibility.

The latest rankings are based on a four-year rolling average and FSU’s 2015-2016 APR was calculated to be 939. This ranks last among the 64 schools in the Power Five conferences which are in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)’s Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).

But more important than the rankings is how close the four-year average of 939 is to the NCAA threshold for penalties and sanctions.

Consider this.

The individual APR’s recorded for the last four years are listed below

FSU APR’s
_______________

2013 – 959
2014 – 943
2015 – 934
2016 – 918

4-YR Ave. 939
_______________

The problem that FSU football faces next year is that their highest APR, which occurred in 2013, will fall from the four-year calculation. This means if FSU scores an APR of 924 or less in 2017, the four-year average will fall below 930.

NCAA APR METHODOLOGY

Each student-athlete receiving athletically related financial aid earns one point for staying in school and one point for being academically eligible.

A team’s total points are divided by points possible and then multiplied by 1,000 to equal the team’s Academic Progress Rate.

In addition to a team’s current-year APR, its rolling four-year APR is also used to determine accountability.

Currently, teams must earn a 930 four-year average APR or a 940 average over the most recent two years to participate in NCAA championships. In 2015-16 and beyond, teams must earn a four-year APR of 930 to compete in championships.

  FSU, FSU Football, NCAA APR