UK Athletics’ 3.0 GPA Streak Reaches 26 Straight Semesters

LEXINGTON, Ky. – With grades for the 2025 spring semester now finalized, University of Kentucky Athletics has surpassed its goal of a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average for 26 straight semesters, as Wildcat scholarship student-athletes combined to achieve a GPA of 3.411. Including non-scholarship athletes from all sports, the overall UK Athletics GPA was 3.435.

The women’s golf team led the department with a spring GPA of 3.879 in both categories, setting the benchmark among all 23 varsity teams. The men’s cross country team led all men’s teams in GPA with a mark of 3.727. In the competing scholarship and non-scholarship category, all 23 varsity teams were over the 3.0 GPA mark, an incredible feat.

Individually, 471 Wildcats achieved a GPA of 3.0 or higher, including 155 Cats who reached 4.0 for the semester.

“Congratulations to our student-athletes for a strong department-wide GPA this spring,” UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart said. “To have 26-straight semesters of an overall department GPA of 3.0 reflects that our focus on competition and education is producing results. It shows how our student-athletes and academic, coaching and support staffs are aligned in making sure we embrace the world-class education offered at the University of Kentucky. These achievements in today’s environment are great examples of the commitment to strong student-athlete experience we offer here at UK.”

Earlier this year, UK Athletics revealed that the 2024 fall semester marked the department’s 25th consecutive term with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher as Wildcat scholarship student-athletes combined to achieve a GPA of 3.405. Including non-scholarship athletes from all sports, the overall UK Athletics GPA was 3.391. Leading the department, the women’s golf team achieved a remarkable 3.92 GPA, setting the highest mark among all 23 varsity teams and establishing a new department record, while men’s tennis secured third with a 3.721.

UK’s high marks in the fall and spring semesters add yet another milestone of academic success for UK student-athletes. Recently, a total of 116 current and former University of Kentucky student-athletes participated in May 2025 Commencement with 14 earning master’s degrees and one earning a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Adding the 33 student-athletes who graduated in December 2024, UK Athletics is had 149 graduates during the 2024-25 school year.

Recently, UK tied the school record for its NCAA Graduation Success Rate of 92 percent, two points above the national average of 90 percent.

The NCAA released its Academic Progress Rate report last week, showing that all University of Kentucky sports teams surpassed the NCAA goal score. Sixteen of the 20 UK team scores exceeded the national average for public universities in their sports and UK’s overall APR rate was higher than the overall national average.

UK Athletics supports the academic success of its student-athletes through CATS – the first academic center of its kind dedicated solely to serving student-athletes. CATS is an important component of UK’s Student-Athlete Experience division, launched as a renewal of the department’s commitment to prepare student-athletes to enter life after UK.

Below is a full GPA report from UK teams in the spring of 2025.