PITTSBURGH - Duquesne's varsity athletics programs posted an average Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 986 - two points above the national average - according to the latest multi-year report released by the National Collegiate Athletic Association on June 14.

It marks the fourth-straight year DU has posted an average of 986 or better.

The public announcement of APRs returned after a one-year hiatus. This spring, the Division I Board of Directors approved the continual suspension of 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.

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.

Every Duquesne athletic program scored above 952, with 12 of 16 (women's indoor and outdoor track is counted once) at 986 or above. Two sports - women's bowling and women's volleyball - posted multiyear rates of 1,000.

The APR provides a real-time look at a team's academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete. The APR includes both retention at an institution and academic eligibility in its calculation. The current multi-year APR report covers the 2017-18 through 2020-21 academic years.

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. For the high-profile sports of football, baseball, and men's and women's basketball, more than 10,400 former student-athletes have returned to college to complete their degrees. These student-athletes are typically not counted in the federal graduation rate or Graduation Success Rate calculations.

A searchable NCAA APR database may be found here.

DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC PROGRESS RATES
(2017-18 thru 2020-21)

Men's Basketball - 952
Women's Basketball – 994
Women's Bowling – 1,000
Men's Cross Country - 994
Women's Cross Country - 989
Football - 953
Women's Lacrosse - 997
Women's Rowing - 990
Men's Soccer - 966
Women's Soccer - 997
Women's Swimming & Diving - 997
Men's Tennis - 979
Women's Tennis - 989
Men's Outdoor Track - 986
Women's Track - 992 (includes indoor and outdoor)
Women's Volleyball - 1,000