Clemson Athletics announced on May 5 that it posted its highest single-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) in school history, scoring a 998 out of 1,000 in the NCAA’s latest data release. The report covers academic years from 2021-22 through 2024-25 and highlights significant achievements across multiple sports programs.
The APR is a measure used to track eligibility and retention of student-athletes on every Division I team. The NCAA uses this data to ensure academic standards are met and sets a threshold score of 930, below which teams may face sanctions. Clemson’s performance reflects strong academic outcomes for its athletes.
A record twelve Clemson programs earned Public Recognition Awards, given annually to teams with multiyear APRs in the top ten percent nationally for their sport. Ten programs achieved perfect scores of 1,000. Sixteen out of nineteen eligible programs recorded an APR of at least 990 or better.
Among women’s sports, basketball tied its program record with a multi-year APR of 995 for two consecutive seasons. Women’s golf extended its streak to eleven straight perfect scores, while gymnastics earned a second perfect APR since becoming eligible. Softball maintained perfection across all five eligible cohorts in program history, and volleyball reached ten consecutive cohorts at an APR of at least 994.
On the men’s side, football posted an APR above 990 in every reporting cycle since the 2017-18 season and is one of only two programs nationally—and the only Football Bowl Subdivision institution—to record at least a 995 for six straight cycles. Men’s basketball achieved three consecutive perfect multi-year scores and was noted as the only Atlantic Coast Conference program to reach this milestone back-to-back years.
The most recent scores are based on averages from four academic years: from fall 2021 through spring semester of the current cohort. Under current rules set by the Division I Board of Directors, teams must maintain an average score above the cut-off point or risk penalties including loss of scholarships or postseason bans.
