Northwestern University student-athletes have the unique opportunity to complete their studies at a top-tier research university while simultaneously competing in Division 1 athletics. A charter member of the Big Ten and the only private institution in the conference, the University is also unique among universities of its stature because of its focus on undergraduate students. Northwestern encourages performance at the highest level both in the classroom and in intercollegiate sports.

Northwestern's talented and highly diverse students are encouraged to participate fully as active members of a learning community that extends far beyond their individual departments or schools. For the student-athletes who compete for Northwestern, as well as the many fans and supporters within the student and faculty population, the athletics program is a major component of the Northwestern experience.

Northwestern is unequivocally committed to the goal of educational excellence in the classroom balanced by high-quality, competitive experiences on the playing field. To ensure that this goal is met, Northwestern University offers its student-athletes a comprehensive system of services and resources, including excellent athletic and recreational facilities, didactic coaching, academic counseling and assistance, first-rate medical care, and highly competitive athletic programs.

Among student-athletes, Northwestern has consistently achieved a 90-percent graduation rate (equal to the graduation rate for the overall student body). We have been among the leading schools in the NCAA in terms of graduation rate of our student-athletes — and Northwestern is among the top ten universities ranked by U.S. News and World Report magazine in terms of athlete graduation rates. Our football team — which earned an appearance at the 2005 Sun Bowl — has been honored twice in the last three years for having the highest graduation rate in Division 1-A. When compared with other institutions using the NCAA's new measure of academic performance among student-athletes, the Academic Progress Rate (APR), Northwestern scored the highest among Big Ten schools: a near-perfect 980. On this same measure, ten of Northwestern's 19 varsity sports scored a perfect 1,000.