CU Student-Athletes Record Best Spring GPA In Program History

BOULDER – The University of Colorado put together a fantastic semester in the classroom with CU's 369 student-athletes from 17 varsity sports recording a 3.154 grade point average for the spring 2023 semester, the highest term GPA ever recorded, and that effort raised the cumulative GPA to 3.182, also the highest on record.

The Buffs recorded their seventh straight semester with over a 3.0 grade point average and 13 of 15 teams (indoor and outdoor track count as one) posted semester GPAs over 3.0 with nine programs earning 3.3 or higher GPA for the spring. Additionally, 13 of 15 teams have a cumulative GPA over 3.0 and 10 teams have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher.

"I'm so proud of what our student-athletes continue to accomplish in the classroom," CU Athletic Director Rick George said. "Success academically is a staple of our Crawford Family Whole Student-Athlete program and our vision to create a world-class experience for our student-athletes. What our student-athletes accomplish while at CU both on and off the field will impact them long after they leave, and their success in the classroom will contribute to success later in life."

CU's football team posted its best term GPA on record with a 2.932, the first time over a 2.9 on record and third time over a 2.8 GPA, all in the last five semesters.

"Our goal is to cultivate professionals, whether it's on the field, in the business world or in our communities," Football Coach Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders said. "A winner wins on the field, off the field and in the community but it all starts in the classroom."

Along with football, both the women's ski (3.667) and women's basketball (3.356) teams achieved the best spring term GPA on record for each program. Women's basketball also posted the best fall GPA in its history.

"When we came to the University of Colorado, it was our goal to create an environment where our student athletes are excelling in every area of their lives," Women's Basketball Coach JR Payne said. "Beyond the individual and collective success on the court, I am equally proud of our team's success in the classroom! I'm very thankful for the support our student-athletes receive from the Herbst Academic Center which is second to none. It makes for a great system where our students can achieve anything that want to in the classroom."

The women's ski team's GPA is the highest for any team in the spring in CU history and is the second-highest term GPA on the books behind its own 3.703 GPA from fall of 2015. It marks the 44th straight semester the women's skiers have achieved over a 3.0 GPA and 23rd straight over a 3.3 GPA.

Men's skiing was just behind with a 3.482 GPA, the 26th straight over a 3.0 and 10th in a row over a 3.2 GPA. Women's golf (3.456) hit the 3.0 mark for the 26th straight semester and 11th in a row over a 3.2, and the women's lacrosse program (3.431) was over a 3.0 for the 18th straight semester including 12 in a row over 3.2. The women's cross country (3.358) and track & field (3.320) both continue to achieve at a high rate with their 38th and 29th straight semester, respectively, over a 3.0 GPA.

"This is a testament as to how hard and smart the student-athletes and the Herbst Academic Center staff worked this spring," Executive Senior Associate Athelic Director for Student Success Kris Livingston said. "We set high academic expectations and goals, and the student-athletes accepted the challenge. Our coaches helped by encouraging their students and supporting our staff. It's always a group effort. I'm proud of our students and appreciative of our staff."

The academic staff started charting these numbers in the spring of 1996 and spring 2020 numbers are not included because of pass/fail options and late withdraw options due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

CU Student-Athletes Record Best Spring GPA In Program History

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