Academics

Student-Athletes Set New GPA Record as Vermont Captures Third Straight Walter Harrison Academic Cup

BOSTON – Following an impressive 2024-25 academic year, America East student-athletes set a new record for cumulative GPA, while Vermont claimed its third consecutive Walter Harrison Academic Cup and league-record 11th overall.
 
This academic year America East student-athletes earned a cumulative 3.46 GPA, surpassing the previous record of 3.42 set back during the 2020-21 academic year. For the first time in league history, all nine institutions also claimed institutional GPA’s of at least 3.35. This comes on the heels of the America East conference tying for 4th in the nation in the latest NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR), solidifying itself as one of the best academic conferences in the nation.
 
Vermont posted a 3.54 GPA, the second-highest institutional total in league history to take home the Academic Cup once again. Maine finished second for a third consecutive year with a 3.51 GPA, which is the third-highest mark in AE history. New Hampshire was third with a 3.50 while UAlbany took fourth with a 3.49 GPA.
 
“I continue to be inspired by the academic excellence of our student-athletes, who this year set a new conference record with a 3.46 cumulative GPA,” said America East Commissioner Brad Walker. “Their commitment to success in the classroom is matched by the dedication of our coaches and administrators, and we’re proud that all nine of our institutions posted GPAs of 3.35 or higher—another first in league history. This achievement, along with one of the nation’s top graduation rates, reflects how seriously we take the ‘student’ in student-athlete.”
 
The Academic Cup, established by the America East Board of Directors in 1995, is presented to the institution whose America East student-athletes post the highest grade-point average during that academic year. The award was named for long time University of Hartford President, Walter Harrison, in 2017.
 
Academic Cup Highlights
  • Vermont’s 3.54 GPA is the second-highest mark in league history, trailing just Maine which had a 3.62 GPA during the 2020-21 academic year.
  • Vermont had seven programs earn at least a 3.50 GPA, led by women’s soccer (3.78), women’s swimming & diving (3.72) and women’s track & field (3.67).
  • All nine America East institutions averaged at least a 3.35 GPA, marking the first time in conference history all league schools have earned at least a 3.30.
  • Vermont, UMBC and NJIT were the only three schools to have all of their America East programs earn at least a 3.0 GPA.
  • Binghamton women’s cross country posted the highest GPA of any program with a 3.81, followed by Vermont women’s soccer (3.78), UNH women’s cross country (3.74) and Bryant women’s swimming & diving (3.74).
  • Women’s swimming & diving posted the highest GPA of any sport with a 3.66, while women’s soccer earned a 3.62. In 2023-24 both sports tied with a 3.60 GPA. Field hockey and volleyball both posted 3.58 GPA’s in 2024-25 to tie for third.
  • Maine was the only school to have three programs earn at least 3.70 GPA, followed by Bryant, UNH and Vermont with two apiece.
  • Vermont had 11 programs earn at least a 3.40 GPA, followed by Binghamton, Bryant and Maine with 10 programs apiece.
  • This marks the 20th consecutive year with America East student-athletes averaging at least a 3.9 GPA.
 
Sport GPA Champions
  • Baseball – NJIT (3.52 – 5th straight year taking first)
  • Men’s Basketball – Vermont (3.09)
  • Women’s Basketball – Maine (3.69 – 2nd straight year taking first)
  • Men’s Cross Country – Maine (3.72 – 4th straight year taking first)
  • Women’s Cross Country – Binghamton (3.81 – 2nd straight year taking first)
  • Field Hockey – Maine (3.73 – 5th straight year taking first)
  • Men’s Lacrosse – UMass Lowell (3.51 – 2nd straight taking first)
  • Women’s Lacrosse – Bryant (3.62)
  • Men’s Soccer – UAlbany (3.53 – 3rd straight year taking first)
  • Women’s Soccer – Vermont (3.78)
  • Softball – Maine (3.66 – 3rd straight year taking first)
  • Men’s Swimming and Diving – Binghamton (3.53 – AE champion)
  • Women’s Swimming and Diving – Bryant (3.74)
  • Men’s Track and Field – New Hampshire (3.48)
  • Women’s Track and Field – New Hampshire (3.69)
  • Volleyball – Bryant (3.72)
 
ABOUT AMERICA EAST
Founded in 1979, the America East Conference is an elite NCAA Division I athletic conference that fosters an environment for student-athletes to become champions. Comprised of academically renowned, like-minded member institutions located in the Northeast region of the United States, America East is committed to broad-based excellence and progressive in its approach to supporting its more than 3,500 student-athletes across 18 sponsored sports. For more information, visit www.AmericaEast.com and follow the America East Conference and its social media channels, @AmericaEast.
 
- America East Conference – Where Champions Rise -