According to the NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) data, which were released this week, lacrosse again fares extremely well compared to other sports for the 1998-2001 cohorts among schools in Division I (combined). Male lacrosse players had a GSR of 88%, which was highest among the sports in the survey, and had the second highest federal graduation rate at 74% (fencing was highest). Female lacrosse players were tied for third in GSR at 94% and placed second with federal rate of 84%.

GSR and the perhaps more familiar federal graduation rate data are shown in the table below by gender and sport. Results for the three previous groups of cohorts are also shown. For more information on the GSR, please see the NCAA web site and their release, which appears following the four data tables.

[Note: The federal rate uses fall cohorts as a base, and from that a very small number of exclusions are made for deaths, military service, participation in church missions, etc. On the other hand, the GSR begins with the same cohort but adds freshmen who enter in January, and transfers from two- and four-year colleges. It also includes non-scholarship athletes at schools not offering athletic aid. Finally, the GSR excludes students who left school while academically eligible. The upshot for the 1998-2001 cohort is that about 27,000 students are included in the GSR and not in the federal rate, and roughly 19,000 more students are excluded from the GSR but included in the federal rate.]

1998-2001 Cohorts Four-Class Average

Men's Sports			Women's Sports
Sport	NCAA GSR	Federal Rate	Sport	NCAA GSR	Federal Rate
Lacrosse	88%	74%	Skiing	96%	73%
Water Polo	87%	71%	Gymnastics	95%	85%
Fencing	86%	78%	Field Hockey	94%	81%
Gymnastics	86%	70%	Lacrosse	94%	84%
Ice Hockey	83%	64%	Crew/Rowing	91%	75%
Swimming	83%	69%	Fencing	90%	81%
Tennis	83%	64%	Ice Hockey	90%	74%
Volleyball	83%	69%	Swimming	90%	75%
Skiing	82%	73%	Soccer	89%	71%
Rifle	80%	60%	Tennis	89%	70%
Golf	79%	61%	Volleyball	88%	71%
Soccer	79%	58%	Golf	87%	71%
CC/Track	74%	60%	Softball	86%	70%
Wrestling	72%	54%	Water Polo	86%	76%
Baseball	68%	47%	CC/Track	84%	70%
Football (FBS)	67%	55%	Basketball	82%	64%
Football (FCS)	65%	54%	Rifle	82%	64%
Basketball	62%	46%	Bowling	68%	57%
Average	78.2%	62.6%		87.8%	72.9%

1 2 3 4 5    Next  »

2008-10-15