Razorbacks Earn Record Graduation Success Rate

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Arkansas student-athletes that entered school in a four-year period from 2004-07 earned a school record graduation success rate (GSR) of 76 percent according to a report released on Tuesday by the NCAA. The latest graduation success rate marked the sixth-consecutive rate of more than 70 percent by Razorback student-athletes and the highest since the GSR was introduced in 1998.

The graduation success rate was developed as an improved measurement tool for tracking student-athletes’ academic progress leading toward graduation. The graduation success rate is a four-year snapshot of a program’s academic progress. The University of Arkansas has steadily improved its graduation success rate since the measurement was implemented 10 years ago rising from an initial rate of 60 percent to 76 percent in the numbers released on Tuesday. The previous best GSR recorded by the University of Arkansas was 74 percent, recorded by freshmen student-athletes initially enrolled in 2003.

“Our GSR is an indication of the progress we are making in equipping Razorback student-athletes to achieve the ultimate goal of intercollegiate athletics – graduation,” Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Jeff Long said. “For the sixth-consecutive year, we have earned a GSR exceeding 70 percent, including this year’s record mark of 76 percent. While we have made substantial progress, the true measure of our efforts as a combined department are not yet reflected in those percentages. As those results begin to be factored in the GSR, we look forward to even greater progress in those scores.

The GSR for all NCAA institutions was released on Tuesday. The GSR was established to more accurately gauge academic progress among student-athletes. Traditional federal graduation rates, which do not account for transfers or other student-athletes that leave institutions in good academic standing, were also released. That rate, based on student-athletes who enrolled full-time in fall 2007, is 56 percent.

In addition to graduation success rate, the NCAA established the Academic Progress Rate (APR) that provides institutions with a more real-time indicator of academic success. Last summer, Arkansas exceeded the APR benchmark in all 19 sports for the second consecutive year. 

In 2013-14, a total of 112 current or former Razorback student-athletes earned their college degrees from the University of Arkansas. That number marked an 81 percent increase in graduates in the past six academic years. Razorback student-athletes also combined to post a program record cumulative GPA of 3.18.

For more information regarding Razorback Athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.