Illini athletes boast strong academic showing in 2025-26 school year

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) - Student-athletes at the University of Illinois continue to raise the bar for performance in both competition and in the classroom, boasting an all-sport average GPA of 3.50.

Director of Athletics, Josh Whitman, shared that 122 Illini student-athletes graduated, representing 10 different colleges and more than 40 majors at the school.

Illinois football had an exceptional year, graduating 29 players, with a semester record GPA of 3.20. A total of 65 players exceeded a 3.00 GPA, including 34 over a 3.50, and 8 perfect 4.0 GPAs. The Illini have now achieved an average semester GPA above 3.0 in seven-straight semesters, a rarity among power-4 football programs.

Illinois ranks inside the top-50 on a list of the best Division 1 colleges for student athletes, according to the Next College Student Athlete (NCSA). Using metrics by U.S. News & World Report and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the list ranks programs based on athletic and academic success.