May 6, 2009
Northwestern's 2007-08 APR Data (PDF Format) 
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) released its latest Academic Progress Rate (APR) data on Wednesday, May 6, and Northwestern continues to excel in its academic performance.
Northwestern earned an APR score of 993 for the second-straight year across all of its athletic programs in 2007-08, matching its highest score in the five-year history of the APR program. Northwestern's four-year APR average is 985.
"Our student-athletes continue to score tremendously well in the latest APR data, which is yet another indication of our dedicated commitment in the classroom," Northwestern Athletic Director Jim Phillips said. "These young men and women represent what being a true student-athlete is all about. We are exceptionally proud to remain a leader among our peers in graduation rates while still competing for championships in every one of our 19 varsity sports."
Every Northwestern program has a four-year average APR of 971 or better, with two programs earning a perfect 1,000 score: men's tennis and women's golf. In addition to those sports, 12 other Wildcats' programs recorded perfect scores for the 2007-08 year: men's basketball, men's golf, men's soccer, men's tennis, wrestling, cross country, field hockey, women's golf, softball, women's swimming, women's tennis and volleyball.
Five Northwestern teams were honored by the NCAA with public recognition awards on April 22 for their latest multi-year APR scores. Teams honored for being in the top 10 percent were: men's soccer, men's tennis, women's golf, women's volleyball and wrestling.
Also of note is Northwestern's football team, which compiled an outstanding 992 APR score for the second year in a row to earn a four-year rate of 973, two points higher than its score last year. The average cumulative APR for the sport is 935 according to the latest data. The gridiron 'Cats have won the American Football Coaches Association's (AFCA) Academic Achievement Award for having the highest graduation rate in the country in four of the last seven years.
Northwestern has been able to achieve its academic success while also competing at the highest level athletically; despite fielding a smaller number of varsity athletics programs than most BCS schools, Northwestern has finished in the top-40 in the U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup standings in each of the last four years.
Every Division I sports team calculates its APR each academic year, based on the eligibility, retention and graduation of each scholarship student-athlete. It also serves as a predictor of graduation success. All information in the latest report is for the past four academic years (2004-08). Teams that score below 925 face varying degrees of penalties.