LA MIRADA, Calif. ---Biola University finished among the top-7 institutions in the NAIA with 18 of its 19 programs earning NAIA Scholar-Team distinction.
 
Biola Women's Cross Country led the way with a team cumulative GPA of 3.64. Men's Golf was the highest men's program with a cumulative GPA of 3.32.
 
For a team to be considered for the NAIA Scholar-Team award, it must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale). Each team GPA includes all eligible varsity student-athletes.
 
"I think it shows two things," said Associate Athletic Director Eddie Shepard. "It shows what amazing student-athletes we have here. They are able to be so successful in their respective sports and also be so successful in the classroom. It also shows the great staff and faculty that we have here at Biola. They come along and support our student-athletes to help the excel in the classroom.
 
The NAIA recognized 1,585 athletic teams with Scholar Team honors in 2015-16. Of those 1,500-plus programs, 58 came from the Golden State Athletic Conference. In the conference, Biola led the way with its 18, Arizona Christian was second with 15 and Vanguard and Westmont both have eight.
 
Biola's three programs with the highest GPA were women's cross country (3.64) and women's indoor (3.63) and outdoor (3.60) track & field. Women's Basketball saw the largest increase in cumulative GPA from last year, upping by 0.24 points from 3.10 to 3.34 over the course of 2015-16.
 
Read the full NAIA release here.