USC Upstate Awarded Grant Benefitting Spartan Athletes
8/27/2026 2:15:00 PM | General
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – USC Upstate Athletics has once again been selected as a recipient of the NCAA's Accelerating Academic Success Program (AASP) grant, continuing the department's commitment to providing resources that enhance the academic success and overall experience of Spartan student-athletes.
USC Upstate was selected to receive an AASP grant for the 2026-27 academic year, continuing the University's involvement with the NCAA program designed to provide additional academic resources to Division I institutions.
The Accelerating Academic Success Program provides resources to historically underfunded Division I institutions to strengthen academic support, improve Academic Progress Rate outcomes and develop sustainable programs designed to help student-athletes succeed in the classroom and ultimately earn their degrees.
The latest award continues USC Upstate's history with the AASP program. The University previously received grant funding through the program to support summer financial aid, leadership and life-skills programming and additional initiatives designed to enhance the student-athlete experience.
The continued investment comes as USC Upstate student-athletes continue to experience success in the classroom. During the 2025-26 academic year, the Spartans posted a department-record 3.36 cumulative GPA, marking the fourth consecutive term with a department-wide GPA above 3.30. A total of 173 student-athletes earned a GPA of 3.5 or higher, while 57 Spartans recorded a perfect 4.0 GPA.
The AASP grant aligns with the department's Elevate Upstate strategic plan and its emphasis on Academic Success & Career Development. Among the department's long-term goals are maintaining an annual Academic Progress Rate of at least 985, a Graduation Success Rate of at least 90 percent and a student-athlete GPA of at least 3.30. The plan also calls for expanded tutoring and study hall opportunities, increased academic support personnel and innovative technologies to assist student-athletes.
Established by the NCAA in 2012, the Accelerating Academic Success Program provides funding to eligible Division I institutions to assist in developing and enhancing systems that support student-athlete academic success. Grant funding can be used for areas including academic advising, tutoring and learning resources, technology, career development, degree-completion initiatives and professional development.
The 2026-27 AASP grant further strengthens USC Upstate Athletics' commitment to developing student-athletes beyond competition and providing Spartans with the academic, leadership and career-development resources necessary to succeed during their collegiate careers and beyond.
