The United Soccer Coaches announced the recipients of the 2025-26 College Team Academic Award on August 7, 2026, honoring 798 soccer programs for achieving a team grade point average of 3.0 or higher during the academic year. According to the organization, the total includes 335 men’s teams and 463 women’s programs, with 187 schools placing both their men’s and women’s squads on the list.
Academic Excellence Across Divisions
To qualify for the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award, a roster must post a collective GPA of 3.0 or higher throughout the academic year. According to United Soccer Coaches, programs from across various collegiate divisions met the benchmark, reflecting a widespread commitment to student-athlete performance in classrooms nationwide.
Individual institutional reports illustrate the breadth of academic success among women’s programs. According to Mercy University athletics, the Mercy University women’s soccer team earned the award after posting a 3.57 team GPA for the 2025-26 academic year. Under the direction of head coach Jack Nicholson, the Mavericks combined their academic honors with a 14-4-3 athletic record in 2025, capturing the ECC Regular Season Championship and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Notable Program GPAs in 2025-26
Hundreds of institutions met the grade point threshold across the country. According to United Soccer Coaches data, notable women’s program GPAs for the 2025-26 period include:
- Ball State University: 3.82 GPA, led by coach Andy Stoots.
- Butler University: 3.79 GPA, led by coach Tari St. John.
- Brevard College: 3.79 GPA, led by coach Juan Mascaro.
- Ashland University: 3.74 GPA, led by coach Cayleb Paulino.
- University of Bridgeport: 3.74 GPA, led by coach Tania Armellino.
- Bemidji State University: 3.74 GPA, led by coach Jim Stone.
- Bowling Green State University: 3.76 GPA, led by coach Chris Fox.
- Bates College: 3.76 GPA, led by coach Joe Vari.
- Case Western Reserve University: 3.77 GPA, led by coach Alyssa Johnson.
Dual-Program Honorees and Institutional Balance
A key feature of the 2025-26 announcement is the volume of institutions securing recognition for both their men’s and women’s programs. According to United Soccer Coaches records, 187 schools managed to clear the 3.0 team GPA threshold simultaneously for both genders.
The complete list of honorees spans various collegiate divisions, ensuring that programs receive acknowledgment for maintaining educational standards while traveling, training, and competing.