KALAMAZOO, Mich. --  Western Michigan student-athletes closed out the 2025-26 academic year by posting a department-record combined GPA of 3.42, capping off a year marked by unprecedented success both in competition and in the classroom.

This spring semester marked the first time in department history that every Western Michigan varsity program recorded a team GPA of 3.0 or higher. WMU's men's programs posted a combined 3.29 GPA, the highest men's semester GPA in department history. Men's Soccer earned a program-record 3.71 GPA, while the Bronco Football program posted a 3.11 GPA, its second-highest mark ever.  Softball also achieved its highest GPA on record at 3.72, and WMU Golf led all programs with a department-best GPA of 3.78.

"I am incredibly proud of our student-athletes for continuing to set new academic standards while competing at such a high level athletically," said Ashley Williams, Assistant Athletic Director, Academic Services. "I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation to my team — Adriana Diaz and Neely Fisher — for their unwavering commitment to supporting our student-athletes. Additionally, thank you to our administration and coaching staffs for continually emphasizing the importance of academic success within our department. Together, they continue to make Kalamazoo the City of Champions!"

During the Spring semester, 285 Bronco student-athletes earned GPAs of 3.0 or higher, while 216 recorded GPAs of at least 3.5. Sixty-six student-athletes achieved a perfect 4.0 GPAs.

"Bronco student-athletes continue to impress with their outstanding academic performances," said Dr. Gary Bischoff, WMU Faculty Athletic Representative. "Each semester, they break team GPA records and excel in the classroom. In a tumultuous time in college athletics, WMU continues to keep the 'student' in student-athlete."

The release of NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores for 2024-25 further highlighted the department's academic achievements. Men's Tennis, Women's Basketball, Women's Tennis, Cross Country, and Golf each earned perfect APR scores of 1000.

Women's Soccer (998), Gymnastics (995), Volleyball (995), Men's Soccer (993), Baseball (992), and Softball (991) all earned APR scores of 990 or higher. Overall, 13 of WMU's 15 teams outperformed the national average APR for their respective sport.

The Academic Progress Rate (APR) is an annual scorecard that measures the academic achievement of all NCAA Division I sports teams. It tracks student-athlete eligibility, retention, and graduation, providing a comprehensive view of each team's academic performance. Each semester, scholarship student-athletes can earn up to two points—one for staying academically eligible and one for staying in school or graduating. A team's APR is calculated each academic year, much like a report card. The APR marks are a four-year composite, covering the 2021-22 through 2024-25 academic years.