Hillsdale College announced that a record 189 of its student-athletes were named to the Academic All-Conference team for the 2025-26 academic year, eclipsing the previous high of 186 set during the 2021-22 season.
Academic Excellence Across the Board
The department-wide grade point average for the spring semester reached 3.47, the highest ever recorded at Hillsdale, and serves as the benchmark for eligibility under the Great Midwest Athletic Conference's 3.3 GPA requirement.
Men's basketball posted the top cumulative GPA among all programs at 3.77, while the women's volleyball team led the women's sports with a 3.71 average.
Both the men's basketball and women's volleyball squads also shared the highest cumulative GPA for the full school year, posting a 3.69 mark.
Historic Milestones
The previous record of 186 honorees dated back to the 2021-22 season, making the 2025-26 class the most decorated in the college's history.
Every one of Hillsdale's 14 NCAA-sponsored sports programs contributed at least one student-athlete to the list, underscoring the campus-wide commitment to academic achievement.
Broad Representation
Nearly half of all Chargers athletes — 48.5% — earned the Academic All-Conference honor, reflecting a deep integration of scholarly performance and athletic participation.
The football team led the way with 52 honorees, while the women's volleyball roster saw 86.7% of its members receive the distinction, followed by men's cross country at 78.9% and men's golf at 75%.
The data also revealed that all 14 teams achieved a roster participation rate of at least 40%, with 10 of the 14 squads surpassing the 50% threshold.
A Milestone for the Program
The achievement underscores the department's commitment to balancing athletic competition with academic excellence, marking a historic milestone in the college's ongoing effort to set new standards for student-athlete performance.