Patriot League Graduation Report Numbers at a Glance (.PDF)
 
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Patriot League recorded a 96 percent graduate success rate (GSR) and an 86 percent federal graduation rate (FGR) in data released by the NCAA on Thursday. The League ranked among the top-two NCAA Division I conferences in both academic success measures for student-athletes.
 
The League’s 86 percent FGR is the best mark in the nation for the ninth consecutive year.  The League’s 96 percent GSR, a one-point improvement from the numbers released last year, is the second-best mark in the nation. The Patriot League has been among the top three NCAA Division I conferences in GSR each year since the introduction of the rating in 2013.
 
The graduation rates are the most recent recorded graduating class that started school in 2014. In the four-year average of classes entering from 2011-2014, each Patriot League school recorded a GSR of 91 percent or better. Holy Cross and Lafayette led the way at 99 percent. Bucknell followed at 98 percent, with Colgate finishing at 97 percent. Loyola Maryland (96), Boston University (95), Navy (95), American (94), Lehigh (93) and Army West Point (91) all exceeded the national student-athlete Graduation Success Rate of 89 percent.
 
Bucknell and Colgate tied for a League-high FGR score of 89 percent, with Holy Cross and Lafayette tied at 87 percent. Lehigh (85), Boston University (84), Loyola Maryland (78) and American (72) all finished above the overall national average of 69 percent. Army West Point and Navy do not report federal graduation rates because they do not offer athletics aid.
 
The Patriot League also finished among the nation’s top conferences in the most recent GSR and FGR results for individual sports released by the NCAA, including baseball, men’s and women’s basketball and football.
 
The League’s men’s basketball programs finished with the best GSR score in the nation (100), a four-point improvement from the last year’s data. Eight League schools - Army West Point, Boston University, Bucknell, Holy Cross, Lafayette, Lehigh, Loyola Maryland and Navy posted perfect GSR scores. The League also had the highest FGR score (76), with Bucknell, Holy Cross and Lafayette tying for a League-high FGR score of 92 percent.
 
Patriot League women’s basketball programs recorded the best FGR score (94) among NCAA Division I conferences, with Colgate and Lehigh posting perfect scores. The League’s women’s basketball programs finished 17th with a GSR score of 95 percent. Bucknell, Colgate, Holy Cross, Lafayette, Lehigh and Loyola Maryland registered perfect GSR scores.
 
The Patriot League’s football programs recorded the second-best GSR score (97) and the highest FGR score (91) in NCAA Division I. Georgetown posted a perfect GSR score. Four more football programs posted a 90 or better, including Holy Cross (98), Lafayette (97), Bucknell (94) and Colgate (93). Georgetown also recorded the League’s best FGR score at 94 percent.
 
The League’s six baseball programs finished third in NCAA DI in GSR (96). Bucknell, Holy Cross, Lafayette and Navy all finished with perfect GSR scores. The League once again finished with the highest FGR score in the nation at 75 percent.
 
Overall, 112 Patriot League-sponsored teams reported a perfect 100 percent GSR. Thirty-three teams reported perfect FGR scores.
 
The Division I Board of Directors created the GSR in response to Division I college and university presidents who wanted data that more accurately reflected the mobility of college students than the federal graduation rate. The federal rate counts any student who leaves a school as an academic failure, whether they enroll at another school. The GSR formula removes from the rate student-athletes who leave school while academically eligible and includes student-athletes who transfer to a school after initially enrolling elsewhere. This calculation makes it a more complete and accurate look at student-athlete success. The federal graduation rate, however, remains the only measure to compare student-athletes with the general student body.
 
For the NCAA report, along with data for all schools, conferences, sports and years, please CLICK HERE.
 
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athlete can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.