PULASKI, Tenn. – The UT Southern athletic department continued its strong performance in the classroom during the 2025-26 academic year, posting a 3.238 overall departmental GPA and extending its streak of semesters above a 3.0 GPA.
The Firehawks varsity programs combined for an impressive 3.270 GPA, while UT Southern's junior varsity programs recorded a collective 3.024 GPA.
Fifteen varsity athletic programs achieved a team GPA of 3.0 or higher during the academic year, highlighting the continued academic success of Firehawk student-athletes across the department.
Women's Golf led all programs with a department-best 3.60 GPA, followed closely by Men's Golf and Women's Outdoor Track & Field, which each posted a 3.57 GPA. Women's Soccer ranked fourth with a 3.54 GPA, while Women's Cross Country rounded out the top five at 3.52.
Several programs made significant gains from the previous academic year, showcasing the department's continued commitment to excellence in the classroom. Men's Swimming recorded one of the largest improvements, jumping from a 2.95 GPA in 2024-25 to a 3.39 this year. Clay Target also made a major leap from 2.76 to 3.14, while Men's Tennis improved from 3.13 to 3.43.
Women's Golf climbed from 3.30 to a department-leading 3.60, and Women's Swimming improved from 3.18 to 3.32. Baseball also crossed the 3.0 mark after posting a 3.14 GPA, improving from a 2.99 the year prior.
"The growth we saw across our athletic department this year is something our entire university can be proud of," said Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Brandie Paul. "Our student-athletes continue to raise the standard academically while balancing the demands of competition, training, travel, and campus involvement. These improvements reflect their discipline, commitment, and dedication to excellence both on the field and in the classroom. I'm incredibly proud of the work they have put in and thankful for the coaches, faculty, and support staff who continue to invest in their success."
The team GPA is calculated by dividing the quality points earned by the hours attempted during the academic year by all student-athletes listed on each team's eligibility certificate.
Among varsity programs, nine teams finished with a GPA of 3.3 or higher, while seven teams recorded year-over-year GPA improvements.
The Firehawks also saw success among their developmental programs, with JV Softball leading the way at 3.40 and JV Women's Soccer posting a 3.20 GPA.
2025-26 UT Southern Team GPAs (Over 3.0)
Overall Athletics – 3.238
Varsity – 3.270
Women's Golf – 3.60
Men's Golf – 3.57
Women's Outdoor Track & Field – 3.57
Women's Soccer – 3.54
Women's Cross Country – 3.52
Men's Tennis – 3.43
Women's Tennis – 3.43
Men's Swimming – 3.39
Softball – 3.35
Women's Swimming – 3.32
Men's Soccer – 3.31
Women's Volleyball – 3.27
Men's Cross Country – 3.22
Baseball – 3.14
Clay Target – 3.14
Cheerleading – 3.07
Men's Outdoor Track & Field – 3.03
JV – 3.024
JV Softball – 3.40
JV Women's Soccer – 3.20
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