DURHAM, N.C. -- Fifteen of Duke's intercollegiate athletic programs were honored Wednesday with NCAA Public Recognition Awards.

The awards are presented each year to teams finishing among the top 10 percent of their respective sport based on the most recent multi-year Academic Performance Rate (APR).  

Duke's 15 programs that received the honor include baseball, men's basketball, women's fencing, football, men's golf, women's golf, men's lacrosse, women's lacrosse, rowing, men's soccer, women's soccer, men's swimming and diving, men's outdoor track and field, men's tennis and volleyball.  Duke and Northwestern ranked tied for third nationally with 15 teams each, trailing Stanford (19) and Notre Dame (17).

Duke was second among ACC schools, trailing only Notre Dame, followed by Boston College (12), Miami (5), N.C. State (5), Virginia (5), Louisville (4), North Carolina (4), Clemson (3), Florida State (2), Georgia Tech (2), Pittsburgh (2), Virginia Tech (2) and Wake Forest (2).

Over the past nine years, Duke has ranked among the nation's top FBS institutions in terms of raw number of sports receiving the APR public recognition awards:

2015 – 1. Stanford 19; 2. Notre Dame 17; 3. (tie) Duke, Northwestern 15; 5. Minnesota 14; 6. Boston College 12; 7. Michigan 10; 8. Vanderbilt 8; 9. (tie) Arizona State, Illinois, Penn State, Texas, Tulane 7.
2014—1. Notre Dame 15; 2. (tie) Duke, Stanford 14; 4. (tie) Boston College, Minnesota, Northwestern 12; 7. Penn State 8; 8. Vanderbilt 7; 9. (tie) Connecticut, Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio State, Ohio University 6.
2013—1. (tie) Notre Dame, Duke 15; 3. Northwestern 14; 4. (tie) Boston College, Stanford 13; 6. (tie) Penn State, Vanderbilt 8; 8. Rice 7; 9. (tie) Texas, Illinois, Ohio State 6.
2012—1. Notre Dame 17; 2. Duke 13; 3. (tie) Boston College, Northwestern, Stanford 10; 7. (tie) Texas, Wake Forest 7; 9. Rice 6; 10. (tie) Illinois, Miami (Fla.), Ohio State, Tulane 5.
2011—1. Notre Dame 17; 2. Duke 15; 3. Boston College 11, 4. Vanderbilt 10; 5. (tie) Northwestern, Penn State, Stanford, Texas 9; 9. U.S. Naval Academy 8; 10. North Carolina 7.
2010—1. Duke 15; 2. Notre Dame 14, 3. Boston College 13, 4. Northwestern 10, 5. U.S. Naval Academy 9, 6. (tie) North Carolina, Stanford 8; 8. Vanderbilt 7; 9. (tie) Michigan, Rice, Vanderbilt 6.
2009—1. Notre Dame 14; 2. Duke 12; 3. (tie) Boston College, Stanford, U.S. Naval Academy 11; 6. Rice 7; 7. (tie) Michigan, North Carolina 6; 9. (tie) Northwestern, Penn State, Virginia, Wake Forest 5.
2008—1. (tie) Duke, U.S. Naval Academy 12; 3. Notre Dame 11; 4. (tie) Boston College, Stanford 10; 6. (tie) North Carolina, Northwestern 8.
2007—1. U.S. Naval Academy 14; 2. (tie) Boston College, Stanford 12; 4. (tie) Notre Dame, Duke, Rice 11; 7. Northwestern 9; 8. North Carolina 7.

The APR provides a real-time look at a team's academic success each semester or quarter by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete. The APR includes eligibility, retention and graduation in the calculation and provides a clear picture of the academic culture in each sport.