Sept. 27, 2002
Six Patriot League member institutions, including four full members and two associate members, were ranked among the top NCAA Division I-AA and I-AAA colleges and universities for success in graduation rates, announced Thursday by the USA Today-NCAA Foundation Academic Achievement Award program.
For the second-straight year the PL has had at least five members honored by the USA Today-NCAA Foundation Academic Achievement program.
Holy Cross, with a 90 percent graduation rate, tied for second and Bucknell, with an 89 percent graduation rate, tied for fourth among Division I-AA and I-AAA institutions. Colgate and American, each at 87 percent, were tied for seventh in the overall graduation rate list for freshmen who matriculated in the 1995-96 academic year.
Associate members Georgetown (90%) tied Holy Cross for second-place and Villanova (89%) tied Bucknell for fourth in the rankings. Georgetown is a PL member in football while Villanova competes in the League in women's lacrosse.
The rankings are determined by annual federal graduation rate forms required of schools offering athletic aid. As service academies, PL members Army and Navy are exempt from the required submission of the form and therefore ineligible for the award.
In a seperate press release Thursday, the NCAA announced that for the first time since the organization began tracking graduation rates, Division I student-athletes graduating by August 2001 reached the 60 percent plateau.
All Patriot League member institutions consistently have graduation rates above 80%, and the League is widely regarded as the No. 1 NCAA Division I League for graduation rates.
Just off the top 10 list, but among the national leaders of more than 300 Division I institutions, are Lafayette (86%) and Lehigh (82%).
In the 2001 rankings, Lehigh, Georgetown, Colgate and Bucknell were among the Top 10 in graduation rate. Additionally, first-year League member American led the list of institutions that had shown the most improvement in student-athlete graduation rate (29%).
The NCAA survey includes athletes who were freshmen in the 1995-96 school year. For purposes of this study, the student-athletes are given six years to earn their diplomas. However, all Patriot League student-athletes are recruited on the premise that they will graduate four years after matriculation. PL institutions are discouraged from "red-shirting" student-athletes except in unusual situations.
Schools from all three NCAA divisions are recognized. Category winners receive $25,000 and a trophy. No. 1 in overall graduation rate were Rice (Division I-A), Davidson (Division I-AA & I-AAA), Hawaii-Hilo (Division II) and Regis (Division III).
The NCAA Foundation was created in 1988 to generate funds in support of programs that enhance the development and welfare of intercollegiate student-athletes. The programs help student-athletes achieve success in academics and athletics.