UCLA's NCAA Academic Progress Rates (APR) remained at high levels for the 2017-18 through 2020-21 period. Each Bruin team recorded four-year APR averages that are above the 930 score that the NCAA uses as a threshold for penalties.

The APR serves as a team-based metric that accounts for the eligibility and retention of student-athletes during an academic term and can help indicate eventual graduation rates.

Three Bruin teams received an APR Public Recognition Award with perfect scores of 1,000 – beach volleyball for the fifth consecutive time, men's water polo, and women's cross country.

A total of eight UCLA teams earned single-year perfect marks of 1,000 for the 2020-21 academic year – beach volleyball, women's cross country, women's golf, gymnastics, rowing, women's tennis, women's volleyball and men's water polo.

UCLA's multi-year APR by sport (2017-18 through 2020-21):
Baseball – 995
Men's Basketball – 969
Women's Basketball – 983
Women's Beach Volleyball - 1,000 (APR Public Recognition Award-winner)
Men's Cross Country – 993
Women's Cross Country – 1,000 (APR Public Recognition Award-winner)
Football – 947
Men's Golf – 994
Women's Golf – 996
Women's Gymnastics – 995
Women's Rowing – 987
Men's Soccer – 984
Women's Soccer – 997
Softball – 974
Women's Swimming & Diving – 993
Men's Tennis – 970
Women's Tennis – 993
Men's Track & Field – 981
Women's Track & Field – 980
Men's Volleyball – 965
Women's Volleyball – 997
Men's Water Polo – 1,000 (APR Public Recognition Award-winner)
Women's Water Polo – 997