Established in 1952 and selected by College Sports Communicators (CSC), an organization formerly known as College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), the Academic All-America is the longest running and premier award for athletic and academic success across championship college sports at all NCAA levels, the NAIA, two-year colleges and Canadian institutions. Nominating and voting for Academic All-America® is an exclusive right of College Sports Communicators members.

Currently, CSC sponsors Academic All-America® programs for men's soccer, women's soccer, football, volleyball, men's basketball, women's basketball, men's swimming & diving, women's swimming & diving, men's tennis, women's tennis, baseball, softball and men's and women's track and field/cross country. All other championship sports are eligible through the At-Large program. Stand alone contests for each sport are conducted in all three NCAA divisions and the NAIA. A single At-Large program is available for the College Division.

Past sponsors of the program have included Google Cloud (2018-19), Capital One (2011-18), ESPN the Magazine (2004-10), Verizon (2000-04), and GTE (1985-2000).

NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships

The NCAA awards 174 postgraduate scholarships annually, 87 for men and 87 for women. The scholarships – one-time, non-renewable grants of $7,500 – are awarded to student-athletes who excel academically and athletically, who are in their final year of intercollegiate athletics competition, and who intend to continue academic work beyond the baccalaureate degree as a part-time or full-time graduate student. Each sports season (fall, winter, and spring), there are 29 scholarships available for men and 29 scholarships available for women.