This research tested the relationship between career adaptability and academic performance and the incremental validity of career adaptability in predicting academic performance, as well as the mediation role of career adaptability in the relationship between personality and academic performance. 437 undergraduate students completed measures of the Big Five and HEXACO personality models and career adaptability. Academic performance was measured relying on students' GPA. Results showed that career adaptability was positively related to academic performance. Career adaptability was predicted by Big Five extraversion, openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness. Following the traditional approach (hierarchic regression) career adaptability showed incremental validity in predicting academic performance. However, career adaptability did not predict academic performance after the effect of Big Five and HEXACO models of personality was controlled using SEM analysis. Moreover, career adaptability mediated the relationship between Big Five extraversion, conscientiousness, HEXACO openness and academic performance. Implications of the results are discussed.