EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern has scored a 96 percent overall Graduation Success Rate (GSR) in the latest data released by the NCAA today (Oct. 28), a figure which leads the Big Ten by seven percentage points and ranks among the best scores nationally.
Northwestern football, specifically, earned a 97 percent GSR for the current cohort to mark its third-straight year with that score. NU leads the Big Ten by 10 percentage points in football GSR and ranks second in the nation among its FBS brethren.
Ten of NU's 19 varsity sports have perfect 100 percent GSR's for the most recent cohort, which measures incoming freshmen classes from 2004-07. Men's golf, men's soccer, men's tennis, field hockey, women's golf, women's lacrosse, women's swimming and diving, women's tennis, women's cross country and volleyball achieved those perfect scores for the `Cats.
The Wildcats' men's soccer team was the lone B1G soccer program to earn a perfect 100 percent GSR for this cohort. Women's lacrosse is one of two members (along with Penn State) of the new B1G conference beginning in that sport this year to record a 100 percent GSR while NU women's swimming and diving and NU cross country are one of three B1G squads in their respective sports with a perfect 100 percent GSR.
Northwestern wrestling also is of note, ranking eighth in the nation and tied atop the Big Ten with Minnesota with a 95 percent GSR.
"The new NCAA Graduation Success Rate data continues to show that Northwestern student-athletes are exceptional role models in the classroom," Northwestern Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Jim Phillips said. "We pride ourselves on being leaders in the Big Ten and the nation in our commitment to graduate student-athletes as part of our promise of a world class academic, social and athletic experience."
The NCAA developed the Graduation Success Rate (GSR) to more accurately assess the long-term academic success of student-athletes. The rate holds institutions accountable for transfer students, unlike the federal graduation rate. The GSR also accounts for midyear enrollees and is calculated for every sport. Under the calculation, institutions are not penalized for outgoing transfer students who leave in good academic standing. The outgoing transfers are included in the receiving institution's GSR cohort.
The GSR allows student-athletes six years to earn their degree. This year's rate is based on student-athletes who entered college in the fall of 2007, the most recent data available. The rate shows the percentage of those student-athletes who earned a degree by the spring of 2013. The four-year cohort of student-athletes who began college in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 is also included. This marks the 13th year GSR data has been collected.
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