Sept. 27, 2006

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - University of Maryland scholarship student-athletes who entered college in the fall of 1999 graduated at a school-record 76 percent rate, according to figures released today by the NCAA and the Department of Education.

The rates measure student-athletes who received athletics aid from the institution as freshmen and who graduated during the NCAA-mandated six-year window.

The all-time high figure continued the upward trend of graduation rates throughout the last 14 years. In 1993, Maryland's graduation rate for student-athletes was 54 percent. Maryland's rate has been over 60 percent in 10 of the last 12 years. Last year, Maryland's graduation rate hit 70 percent for the first time.

Maryland's student-athletes were within one percent of the all-time high NCAA graduation rate for the general student body. All students at the University of Maryland, College Park, graduated at a 77 percent rate, according to the figures.

In addition, the NCAA's measure of graduation success rate (GSR), which eliminates those who transferred out in good academic standing and adds those on aid who transferred in, was compiled for the second straight year at 76 percent.

Academic Progress Rates (APRs) are tentatively scheduled to be released in May 2007, according to the NCAA.

Data compiled by the NCAA and the Department of Education does not include student-athletes who are not on athletics aid. This is particularly relevant at Maryland since eight men's teams were without full scholarship funding, including teams that excel in the classroom, such as men's tennis for this cohort. For that reason, the 76 percent rate does not fully account for the complete academic success of Maryland student-athletes. Also, student-athletes who leave the institution prior to completing their eligibility - even if they depart in good academic standing or receive degrees elsewhere - count against the original institution's graduation rate for the federally mandated rate only.

The exhausted-eligibility rate, indicating the percentage of scholarship student-athletes who used all their athletics eligibility at the institution and who graduated within six years, was 86 percent. It is the eighth consecutive year and the 10th time in the last 11 years the exhausted-eligibility rate has been at least 82 percent.

Ten teams earned 100 percent graduation rates. Men's golf, men's lacrosse, men's swimming and diving, women's basketball, field hockey, gymnastics, women's lacrosse, women's soccer, softball and volleyball were programs which graduated all their student-athletes in the period.

"There is no greater priority for our department than helping our student-athletes achieve their academic goals," said athletics director Deborah A. Yow. "We have made it a departmental priority to continue to improve in this area. Our unwavering goal is to have graduation rates for student-athletes at 70 percent or higher on a consistent basis."

TERRAPIN ACADEMIC HIGHLIGHTS