Dec. 9, 2009
Northwestern's 2009 GSR Report Sport Breakdown (PDF Format) 
EVANSTON, Ill. -- In the most recent Graduation Success Rate (GSR) data released by the NCAA last month, Northwestern continues to pace the Big Ten and rank among the leaders in the nation in student-athlete academic success with a 97 percent GSR.
Northwestern's GSR of 97 percent is the best in the Big Ten Conference and one of 11 Division I scores nationwide at 97 percent or better. Only three other Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools achieved the 97 percent pinnacle.
Fourteen of NU's 19 varsity sports have perfect 100 percent GSR's for the most recent cohort, which measures incoming freshman classes from 1999-2002. Baseball, women's basketball, women's cross country, women's fencing, men's golf, women's golf, women's lacrosse, men's soccer, softball, men's swimming, women's swimming, men's tennis, women's tennis and women's volleyball achieved those perfect scores for NU.
"Once again, our student-athletes have shown an outstanding commitment to excellence in the classroom," Northwestern Director of Athletics and Recreation Jim Phillips said. "The number one goal for every one of our student-athletes is to earn a prestigious Northwestern degree, and we are exceptionally proud to remain a leader among our peers in graduating student-athletes."
The NCAA developed the GSR to more accurately assess long-term student-athlete academic success. The GSR differs from the federally mandated graduation rate in that it holds institutions accountable for transfer students, accounts for mid-year enrollees and is calculated for every sport. Data show the GSR includes almost 100,000 student-athletes in the most recent four classes, compared to just over 72,000 counted in the federal graduation rate. The NCAA continues to provide the federal rate, though, since there is no comparable rate to the GSR for the general student body.
Football Earns Academic Recognition Among 2009-10 Bowl Teams
Northwestern's football program has earned specific recognition from among its 2009-10 bowl-bound peers from a Lapchick APR/GSR study, conducted by Dr. Richard Lapchick at the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at UCF.
In a study that looked at overall Academic Progress Rate (APR) and GSR scores with regards to race, Lapchick stated "If there were a national championship based on graduation success rates among bowl teams, Navy and Northwestern would have played for the National Championship. Both teams graduated at least 92 percent of all football student-athletes and at least 83 percent of African-American football student-athletes." Northwestern's specific scores were a 92 percent GSR for its football program, inclusive of a 90 percent GSR among its African-American football student-athletes.
Download and read the full report here (PDF Format) .