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Boston College tied with Duke University for second in the nation for overall Graduation Success Rate (GSR) in all sports among FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) schools, according to data released by the NCAA this week. The 97 percent that both schools registered was second only to Notre Dame’s 99 percent.
Twenty-one BC sports teams received a perfect GSR score of 100, the most teams with a perfect score of any FBS athletics program in the country. This marked the third consecutive year the Eagles recorded the most perfect scores among their FBS counterparts. In addition, the football team’s score of 93 was one of only six FBS programs in the country to receive a score of 90 or better.
“We are very proud that our program is among the top three in the nation in terms of graduating our student-athletes,” said Director of Athletics Gene DeFilippo. “Congratulations to our student-athletes for a job well done.”
The 21 Boston College teams that recorded a perfect GSR score of 100 included men’s baseball, fencing, golf, skiing, sailing, swimming and tennis along with women’s basketball, cross country/track, rowing, fencing, field hockey, golf, ice hockey, sailing, skiing, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis and volleyball.
The five FBS institutions that received scores of 90 or better in football were Notre Dame (97), Northwestern (94), Duke (93), Rice (93), BC (93) and Navy (91).
The NCAA developed the Graduation Success Rate as part of its academic reform initiative to more accurately assess the academic success of student-athletes. The rate holds institutions accountable for transfer students unlike the federal graduation rate. The GSR also accounts for midyear enrollees and is calculated for every sport.
The most recent Division I Graduation Success Rates are based on the four entering classes from 2001-2002 through 2004-05. The NCAA began collecting GSR data with the entering freshman class of 1995. The latest entering class for which data are available is 2004.
More information about the GSR report may be found at the NCAA’s website.