Cincinnati’s Graduate Success Rate Continues to Rise

CINCINNATI - The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) announced it latest Graduation Success Rate (GSR) data today with the University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics once again posting improved numbers and bettering the national average. All told, the Bearcats collectively recorded a 92 percent GSR, the highest for the Department in the 15 years the Association has announced the data and the Bearcats' first 90-plus rating. The national average this year is 89 percent.

With another three-point increase this year, the Bearcats have climbed 26 total points since the initial release in 2005 when the 1995-98 cohort for UC was 66 percent. Since then, UC's student-athletes have posted an increased GSR 10 times overall and, in the last four periods, posted a minimum increase of three points each (13 in total).

To reach the new standard, all 15 of the Bearcats' teams achieved a GSR of 80 percent or better for the first time with seven programs posting a perfect 100 percent. Those programs include men's and women's cross country/track & field; men's and women's swimming & diving; men's golf, women's tennis and women's volleyball. Additionally, 14 of the 15 programs on campus recorded an increase (six) or stayed the same (eight) from last year's numbers.

The data released Wednesday is based upon a six-year cohort and includes only student-athletes who received athletic scholarships, enrolled at Cincinnati as freshmen or incoming transfers from 2009-12, and completed their degree within six years. According to the NCAA, the graduation rate (percent) is based on a comparison of the number of students who entered a college or university and the number of those who graduated within six years. For example, if 100 students entered and 60 graduated within six years, the graduation rate is 60 percent.

For more information on the NCAA's GSR data, click on the red links above.