University of North Texas Athletics
Graduation Mark Sets All-Time High
10/16/2019 3:30:00 PM | General
DENTON – North Texas student-athletes recorded their best-ever score in the Graduation Success Rate (GSR), the NCAA announced this week. The most-recent data revealed that Mean Green student-athletes are graduating at an 85 percent rate, which eclipses the record of 83, which they posted each of the previous two years.
"The overall success of an athletics department and student-athletes as a whole are determined by growth on and off the field and courts of competition," Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker said. "We are measured by wins and losses, but also by our ability to help student-athletes earn degrees. I am very proud that we are succeeding at our mission of building champions and preparing leaders."
The most recent GSR information is based on the four freshman classes that entered school from 2009 through 2012. It allows a six-year window in which student-athletes can go on to earn their degree. Since GSR data collecting began with the 1995-98 cohort, North Texas student-athletes have improved from a score of 59 to this year's record-setting 85.
This marks the 10th straight year of GSR data that Mean Green student-athletes have improved or maintained their cumulative score, improving from a score of 67 in the 2008-09 data to the current 85. Of the 23 Div. I schools in Texas, only six schools had a better GSR score than North Texas.
Three Mean Green teams had a perfect 100 in the latest GSR report - women's golf, softball and tennis. Soccer, swimming and volleyball all had a score of 90 or above in the most recent data. Football led the way on the men's side, recording an 83, which was three points better than last year, and four points better than the national average for Div. I football programs.
The GSR was developed by the NCAA as part of its academic reform initiative to more accurately measure the academic success of Division I student-athletes by better accounting for the many different academic paths followed by today's college students. The NCAA also released the most recent federal graduation rate data in conjunction with the GSR information. The GSR holds institutions accountable for transfer students, whereas the federal graduation rate does not. The GSR also accounts for mid-year enrollees. The NCAA calculates the federal graduation rate for student-athletes because it is the only rate by which to compare student-athletes to the general student body.
