Central Michigan University Athletics
Photo by: Brayden Gallagher
CMU Student-Athletes Complete Best Academic Year in School History
5/19/2026 8:00:00 AM | General, Our Stories, Student-Athlete Leadership & Development
Chippewas set a school record for academic excellence with a 3.41 cumulative grade point average in 2025-26; attain a 3.43 spring 2026 semester GPA, the second-highest mark in school history; complete the 55th consecutive semester surpassing a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—Central Michigan University student-athletes achieved their highest academic performance in school history for the 2025-26 academic year, recording a school-record 3.41 cumulative grade point average. In addition, the Chippewas earned their second-highest semester grade point average of 3.43 in spring 2026 and completed their 55th consecutive semester with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
A variety of CMU's academic accomplishments include:
"We are proud of all of our student-athletes, all 16 varsity teams, and our Academic Services department for making this happen," Zyzelewski Family Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Amy Folan said. "Every year, we take great pride in the achievements and accomplishments of our student-athletes. It is Central Michigan Athletics' primary goal to develop young men and women who exemplify the truest definition of a student-athlete. The department's mission also includes providing an authentic environment in which student-athletes can thrive both academically and athletically."
CENTRAL MICHIGAN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS BY THE NUMBER (2025-26)
3.43
Our student-athletes' spring semester grade point average.
55
The 2026 spring semester marked the 55th consecutive semester that the athletics department had a GPA of 3.0 or better.
3.41
Our student-athletes' cumulative grade point average (fall 2025 and spring 2026).
340
Student-athletes (81 percent of 418 total student-athletes) earned a 3.00 GPA or higher across both semesters.
234
Student-athletes (56 percent) earned a 3.50 GPA or higher across both semesters.
52
Student-athletes (12 percent) earned a perfect 4.00 GPA or higher across both semesters.
3.84
Women's Cross Country registered the highest team spring 2026 semester grade point average (3.84).
3.79
Women's Cross Country posted the highest cumulative team grade point average during the 2025-26 academic year.
+0.37
Men's Basketball had the highest grade point average increase from the fall to spring semester, increasing by 0.37. The baseball team finished a close second with a +0.31 increase.
A variety of CMU's academic accomplishments include:
- Central Michigan student-athletes concluded the spring 2026 semester with a school-record 3.41 cumulative GPA for 2025-26.
- Central Michigan's 3.43 semester GPA was its second-highest in school history, following the fall 2025 semester record of 3.45. These consecutive semesters represent the best academic performance by student-athletes at the university.
- At the end of spring 2026, 340 student-athletes, or 81 percent of all student-athletes achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher; 234 student-athletes (55 percent) achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, while 52 had a 4.0 GPA.
- At the conclusion of the spring 2026 semester, the women's cross country team achieved the highest semester (3.84) and highest cumulative (3.79) GPA among Central Michigan's 16 teams.
- All 16 Central Michigan teams recorded both semester and cumulative GPAs of 3.0 or higher. Of those, eight teams outperformed the others by achieving a 3.5 GPA or better during the 2026 semester and the 2025-26 academic year.
- The CMU men's basketball program posted the highest team GPA increase from fall 2025 to spring 2026, rising by +0.37.
"We are proud of all of our student-athletes, all 16 varsity teams, and our Academic Services department for making this happen," Zyzelewski Family Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Amy Folan said. "Every year, we take great pride in the achievements and accomplishments of our student-athletes. It is Central Michigan Athletics' primary goal to develop young men and women who exemplify the truest definition of a student-athlete. The department's mission also includes providing an authentic environment in which student-athletes can thrive both academically and athletically."
CENTRAL MICHIGAN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS BY THE NUMBER (2025-26)
3.43
Our student-athletes' spring semester grade point average.
55
The 2026 spring semester marked the 55th consecutive semester that the athletics department had a GPA of 3.0 or better.
3.41
Our student-athletes' cumulative grade point average (fall 2025 and spring 2026).
340
Student-athletes (81 percent of 418 total student-athletes) earned a 3.00 GPA or higher across both semesters.
234
Student-athletes (56 percent) earned a 3.50 GPA or higher across both semesters.
52
Student-athletes (12 percent) earned a perfect 4.00 GPA or higher across both semesters.
3.84
Women's Cross Country registered the highest team spring 2026 semester grade point average (3.84).
3.79
Women's Cross Country posted the highest cumulative team grade point average during the 2025-26 academic year.
+0.37
Men's Basketball had the highest grade point average increase from the fall to spring semester, increasing by 0.37. The baseball team finished a close second with a +0.31 increase.
—CMU—
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