Samford University鈥檚 women's basketball team secured second place in Inside Higher Ed's academic bracket for the NCAA tournament, recognized for its academic progress rate (APR) of 1000. The team narrowly lost to Princeton University by just one point, with both institutions demonstrating exemplary academic performance. Samford proudly holds the highest graduation success rate (GSR) among Alabama schools at 97, and has led the Southern Conference in GSR for eight consecutive years.

By the Numbers
  • Samford and Princeton both achieved a perfect APR of 1000 in women's basketball.
  • Samford's GSR stands at 97, ranking as the third highest nationally.
State of Play
  • Samford has maintained its leadership in GSR in Alabama for 15 years and in the SoCon for 8 years.
  • The Bulldogs recently won the Germann Cup for the top overall women's athletics program for five consecutive years.
What's Next

With this recognition, Samford aims to continue enhancing its academic programs while fostering athletic success, potentially strengthening its future NCAA tournament bids.

Bottom Line

Samford's achievement in the academic bracket showcase highlights its dual commitment to academic excellence and athletic performance, setting a standard for educational institutions in the NCAA landscape.