What do Graduation Success Rate (GSR) and Academic Progress Rate (APR) measure, and how are they used?

• A. GSR tracks graduation outcomes; APR tracks academic progress toward degree; both are used to assess program academic performance and eligibility.
• B. GSR measures athletic performance; APR measures fan engagement.
• C. GSR is about fundraising; APR is about budget.
• D. GSR tracks injury rates; APR tracks number of practice hours.

Answer: (A)

These measures come from the NCAA and focus on student-athlete academics. Graduation Success Rate tracks how well student-athletes who enter the institution as freshmen (and those who transfer in) go on to graduate within a defined time frame, reflecting real-world outcomes of a program’s ability to help players finish their degrees. Academic Progress Rate, on the other hand, looks at whether athletes are making steady progress toward a degree on a term-by-term basis, typically considered over a rolling multi-year period, to gauge ongoing academic performance.

Both are used to judge a program’s overall academic performance and to determine eligibility and penalties related to postseason play, scholarships, and other program privileges. In short, GSR shows whether athletes graduate, while APR shows whether athletes are progressing toward graduation each term, and together they inform how the program is meeting academic standards.