PITTSBURGH - Duquesne's varsity athletics programs posted an average Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 987 - three points above the national average and just two points below the school's all-time best mark - according to the latest multi-year report released by the National Collegiate Athletic Association on May 2.

This is the fifth-straight year DU has posted an average of 986 or better. The 987 average is second only to the 989 mark posted in 2020 (for the 2016-19 cohort).

Every Duquesne athletic program scored above 955, with 13 of 16 (women's indoor and outdoor track is counted once) at 984 or above. Two sports - women's bowling and women's volleyball - posted multi-year rates of 1,000 for the fifth-straight year.

In addition, nine programs - men's basketball, men's cross country, men's soccer, men's tennis, women's bowling, women's cross country, women's soccer, women's track and women's volleyball - posted perfect scores of 1,000 for the 2021-22 academic year.

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 2018-19 through 2021-22 academic years.

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 falling below the minimum 930 score will not be subjected to penalties this year.

This is the second year of publicly reported APRs after a one-year COVID-19 hiatus. Last spring, the Division I Board of Directors approved the release of APR scores but voted to continue the suspension of program penalties.

Normal Academic Performance Program operations with program penalties and loss of access to postseason competition will resume in spring 2024. This will also include the public recognition of high-performing teams.

Each academic year, every Division I sports team 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 19 years of the Academic Performance Program, more than 20,700 student-athletes have gone back to school to earn their degrees, earning APR points for their former team. For football, baseball, and men's and women's basketball, more than 10,657 former student-athletes have earned degrees. These student-athletes are typically not counted in the federal graduation rate or Graduation Success Rate calculations.

A full list of APRs for each team can be accessed by using the APR searchable database.

DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY MULTI-YEAR ACADEMIC PROGRESS RATES
(2018-19 thru 2021-22)

Men's Basketball - 963 (967 national average)
Women's Basketball - 990 (982 national average)
Women's Bowling - 1,000
Men's Cross Country - 995
Women's Cross Country - 992
Football - 955 (962 national average)
Women's Lacrosse - 990
Women's Rowing - 991
Men's Soccer - 976
Women's Soccer - 998
Women's Swimming & Diving - 995
Men's Tennis - 984
Women's Tennis - 984
Men's Outdoor Track - 986
Women's Track - 994 (includes indoor and outdoor)
Women's Volleyball - 1,000

2021-2022 ONLY ACADEMIC PROGRESS RATES
Men's Basketball - 1,000
Women's Basketball - 979
Women's Bowling - 1,000
Men's Cross Country - 1,000
Women's Cross Country - 1,000
Football - 959
Women's Lacrosse - 970
Women's Rowing - 993
Men's Soccer - 1,000
Women's Soccer - 1,000
Women's Swimming & Diving - 991
Men's Tennis - 1,000
Women's Tennis - 969
Men's Outdoor Track - 987
Women's Track - 1,000 (includes indoor and outdoor)
Women's Volleyball - 1,000