Oct. 14, 2008

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland athletics department posted an institutional Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 79 percent in figures released today by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. This year, for the first time, the NCAA released overall GSR and Federal Graduation rates both for the entire institution and on a team-by-team basis at the same time. Maryland's 79 percent GSR continued a four-year upward trend, topping the 78 percent mark from a year ago and the 76 percent rate in the two years prior.

The Graduation Success Rate is a four-year measure of freshmen who entered Maryland between the fall of 1998 and the fall of 2001. It does not penalize the institution for those student-athletes who transfer from Maryland in good academic standing, as the Federal Rate does. In addition, the GSR includes student-athletes who transfer into the institution and receive athletics aid, unlike the Federal Rate.

Twelve teams at the University of Maryland earned GSRs at or above 80 percent, with three teams posting a perfect rate of 100. Women's golf, gymnastics and women's soccer each earned GSRs of 100 percent. Maryland's women's swimming (95) and women's track and field (94) also achieved GSRs above 90 percent in the four-year figures.

"There is a concerted effort between the academic support staff, the coaches, and the student-athletes in promoting academic success throughout the department, said Anton Goff, Assoc. AD for Academic Support and Career Development. We strive to maintain and uphold the academic mission of the University."

Men's lacrosse had the highest figure among men's teams at 89 percent, followed closely by soccer and swimming and diving at 88 percent. Football had a GSR of 68 percent for the four seasons.

Despite a GSR of 10 percent and a Federal Graduation rate of 11 percent for men's basketball, 9 of the 10 freshmen and transfers measurable by the GSR left the University prior to graduating to pursue professional basketball careers. One of the players who left early to play professionally returned to graduate from Maryland, but outside the NCAA's six-year window.

In addition, Maryland's 2001-02 single-year Federal Graduation rate, also released today by the NCAA, was 68 percent for all student-athletes who received athletics aid from the institution as freshmen that year and who graduated during the NCAA-mandated six-year window.

That figure continued a trend showing consistent strength, as it marked the seventh straight year the number was better than 65 percent. In the 10 years prior to that stretch, Maryland hit 65 percent only three times. The general student body at Maryland had an 80 percent graduation rate for freshmen entering in 2001-02, an all-time high for the institution.

The NCAA also released gender and ethnic breakdowns for federal rates and GSRs. Combining those students who entered the university between Fall 1998 and Fall 2001, female student-athletes had a 79 percent federal rate, while male student-athletes were at 65 percent. African-American female-student athletes were at 83 percent, while African-American males were at 54 percent, just three points lower than African-American males in the general student population.

The ethnic breakdowns for student-athletes mirrored those of the general student population. African-American student-athletes graduated at 63 percent for those four classes, compared with 66 percent for the entire campus.

The GSR and Federal Graduation rates are separate from the NCAA's Academic Performance Rates, which will be released in Spring 2009.

GSRs and four-year Federal Graduation Rates for freshmen and transfers receiving athletic aid and who entered the University of Maryland between Fall 1998 and Fall 2001:

Men's Sport     GSR     4-Yr Fed.

Baseball        68      48
Basketball      10      11
CC/Track        63      71
Football        68      64
Golf            86      83
Lacrosse        89      84
Soccer          88      59
Swimming        88      100
Tennis          43      0
Wrestling       70      64

Women's Sport   GSR     4-Yr Fed.

Basketball      67      60
CC/Track        94      84
Field Hockey    83      87
Golf            100     89
Gymnastics      100     92
Lacrosse        89      83
Soccer          100     93
Softball        89      94
Swimming        95      76
Tennis          67      25
Volleyball      75      69