MU Among Nation's Leaders in Graduation Success Rate
11/22/2016 12:00:00 AM | Academics & Compliance
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MILWAUKEE - Marquette University student-athletes continue to be recognized for their efforts in the classroom according to the latest Graduation Success Rate report released by the NCAA this week. According to the report, Marquette student-athletes posted a 92 percent graduation rate, an increase of two percentage points from the previous year.
Six programs (women's track, women's tennis, women's soccer, men's track, men's tennis, men's golf) posted 100 percent graduation rates, while a total of 10 teams either matched or surpassed the federal graduation rate for all students. This year's numbers reflect a four-year average for students who entered college from 2006-2009.
As a group, 92 percent of MU student-athletes graduated during the latest four-year evaluation period, above the University's student body as a whole. It is MU's highest GSR since 2011, when it also posted a 92 percent rating, and three percentage points shy of the school's highest mark of 95 percent in 2007.
Since the NCAA began publishing GSR reports in 2005, Marquette has equaled or surpassed the 90-percent mark each time.
"Much is said about our student-athletes on the field of play, but not enough attention is given to them for the hard work they put in the classroom," said Marquette Vice President and Director of Athletics Bill Scholl. "This report by the NCAA shows that Marquette student-athletes have one of the highest success rates in the nation in earning their degrees. Many factors go into making our student-athletes successful, including the work of Adrienne Ridgeway and our Academic Services staff, who work with our student-athletes every day to allow them every opportunity to succeed. Also, the coaches placing an emphasis on academics is another important piece of the equation.
"Students choose to attend Marquette University for the full experience and it's evident that our student-athletes are taking advantage of their opportunities toward becoming successful beyond their playing careers."
The NCAA's Graduation Success Rate includes transfer students and student-athletes who leave in good academic standing, unlike the federal graduation rate, which does not count transfers. The GSR and federal rate calculations measure graduation over six years from first-time college enrollment. Presidents and chancellors in all three NCAA divisions called for the Association to develop a measure of graduation success that better reflects transfer patterns in higher education.
The federal graduation rate, while it is less inclusive than the GSR, provides the only measure of historic academic comparison between student-athletes and the general student body. By this standard, student-athletes consistently outperform nearly all their peers in the student body.
The latest data showed that Division I student-athletes who entered college in 2009-10 academic year achieved an 82-percent rate, which was two percentage points higher than the general student body, which had an 80 percent graduation rate.
