CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Eight University of Illinois athletic programs earned the NCAA Public Recognition Award based on their multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR), the NCAA announced Wednesday. The mark sets an Illinois record, breaking the previous record of seven achieved in 2014-15 and 2016-17.

The Public Recognition Award is given to the teams with an APR among the top-10 percent of its sport nationally for the four-year period beginning in the 2013-14 season and ending with the 2016-17 season.

The Illini's eight programs honored ranks third in the Big Ten.

Football 
Illinois received the award in football for the second straight year.

Men's golf 
Illinois has received the award for the last six years.

Softball 
Illinois received the award in softball for the second straight year.

Women's cross country 
Illinois received the award for the second time and the first time since 2004-05.

Women's golf 
Illinois has been honored with the Public Recognition Award for 13 consecutive years.

Women's gymnastics 
Illinois received the award for the sixth time and the first time since 2013-14.

Women's tennis 
Illinois has received the award for the last six years.

Volleyball
Illinois has received the award for the last four years.

About the NCAA APR
Each year, the NCAA honors selected Division I sports teams by publicly recognizing their latest multiyear NCAA Division I APR. This announcement is part of the overall Division I academic reform effort and is intended to highlight teams that demonstrate a commitment to academic progress and retention of student-athletes by achieving the top APRs within their respective sports.

This year's APR rates are based on data from the 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17 academic years. The APR provides a real-time look at a team's academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete on scholarship. The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation and provides a measure of each team's academic performance.

The APRs for all Division I teams will be released May 23 by the NCAA. 

Big Ten Public Recognition Awards
12 Northwestern
10 Michigan
8 Illinois
8 Rutgers
7 Minnesota
5 Penn State
4 Wisconsin
3 Indiana
3 Michigan State
2 Maryland
2 Nebraska
2 Purdue
1 Iowa
1 Ohio State