Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Athletics Once Again Stands Out in NCAA Graduation Rate Report
11/17/2020 1:07:00 PM | General
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell Athletics continues to graduate its student-athletes at one of the highest rates in the country, according to the NCAA's annual graduation rate report released on Tuesday. According to the U.S. Department of Education's standards, Bucknell ranks sixth nationally with a four-class average of 89 percent for student-athletes entering between 2010-11 and 2013-14.
Stanford led the way with a federal graduation rate (FGR) of 93%, followed by Northwestern at and Notre Dame at 92%, Davidson at 91% and Georgetown at 90%. Duke, Colgate and Holy Cross came in just behind Bucknell at 88%. (Note that the Ivy League schools and service academies do not fully report FGR data.)
Bucknell has led the nation in student-athlete graduation rate on several occasions, including as recently as 2013, and annually ranks in the top 10.
In addition to the federal graduation rate report, the NCAA also announced its own Graduation Success Rate (GSR) results, and Bucknell once again scored very well – 97 percent -- in that formula, which is up one point from last year. The GSR differs from the federal graduation-rate formula in that the GSR factors in transfer students who do graduate, and does not penalize schools for losing transfers who leave in good academic standing.
Nineteen Bison sports programs have perfect 100 percent GSR ratings: baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country/track and field (cross country and indoor/outdoor track and field are considered one sport in the NCAA's reporting), men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's water polo, field hockey, softball, women's tennis and volleyball. All remaining sports were at 87 percent or better.
The national GSR for the entering class of 2013 climbed to a record-high 90 percent.
By the more-restrictive federal guidelines, 11 Bison varsity programs boast perfect 100-percent graduation rates. Those programs are baseball, men's basketball, field hockey, men's cross country/track and field, men's lacrosse, men's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming and diving, women's tennis and men's water polo.
The Bison men's basketball team is one of 82 out of 352 Division I programs to boast a GSR of 100, and one of just four with a perfect FGR mark. Bucknell won the "academic national championship" in both 2017 and 2018, according to Inside Higher Ed, which completed a full NCAA Tournament bracket based on the 68 competing teams' academic performances.
The Bison men's lacrosse team is one of just two Division I programs with a 100% FGR. Along the same lines, the baseball is one of five programs with a 100% FGR; men's soccer, men's water polo and softball are one of six in their respective sports; field hockey is one of eight; men's swimming and diving is one of 11; women's swimming and diving is one of 15; and men's cross country/track and field is one of 17.
Each spring, the NCAA releases a separate set of data, called the Academic Progress Rate (APR), which measures both academic performance and retention. Each program receives an APR score, with teams falling under a certain threshold subject to penalties such as loss of scholarships and postseason bans. The top 10 percent in each sport receive APR Public Recognition Awards from the NCAA, and last May, 10 of Bucknell's programs were so honored. All of Bucknell's programs easily met the NCAA minimum standard, and nine maintained perfect scores.
Bucknell sponsors 27 intercollegiate sports at the Division I level. It is a charter member of the Patriot League and has won the league's all-sports championship in 18 of the 29 years it has been contested.
Stanford led the way with a federal graduation rate (FGR) of 93%, followed by Northwestern at and Notre Dame at 92%, Davidson at 91% and Georgetown at 90%. Duke, Colgate and Holy Cross came in just behind Bucknell at 88%. (Note that the Ivy League schools and service academies do not fully report FGR data.)
Bucknell has led the nation in student-athlete graduation rate on several occasions, including as recently as 2013, and annually ranks in the top 10.
In addition to the federal graduation rate report, the NCAA also announced its own Graduation Success Rate (GSR) results, and Bucknell once again scored very well – 97 percent -- in that formula, which is up one point from last year. The GSR differs from the federal graduation-rate formula in that the GSR factors in transfer students who do graduate, and does not penalize schools for losing transfers who leave in good academic standing.
Nineteen Bison sports programs have perfect 100 percent GSR ratings: baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country/track and field (cross country and indoor/outdoor track and field are considered one sport in the NCAA's reporting), men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's water polo, field hockey, softball, women's tennis and volleyball. All remaining sports were at 87 percent or better.
The national GSR for the entering class of 2013 climbed to a record-high 90 percent.
Nine out of every 10 Division I student-athlete earns a degree – an all-time high: https://t.co/RcmxGM32xX pic.twitter.com/40Y3HLo1LS
— Inside the NCAA (@InsidetheNCAA) November 17, 2020
By the more-restrictive federal guidelines, 11 Bison varsity programs boast perfect 100-percent graduation rates. Those programs are baseball, men's basketball, field hockey, men's cross country/track and field, men's lacrosse, men's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming and diving, women's tennis and men's water polo.
The Bison men's basketball team is one of 82 out of 352 Division I programs to boast a GSR of 100, and one of just four with a perfect FGR mark. Bucknell won the "academic national championship" in both 2017 and 2018, according to Inside Higher Ed, which completed a full NCAA Tournament bracket based on the 68 competing teams' academic performances.
The Bison men's lacrosse team is one of just two Division I programs with a 100% FGR. Along the same lines, the baseball is one of five programs with a 100% FGR; men's soccer, men's water polo and softball are one of six in their respective sports; field hockey is one of eight; men's swimming and diving is one of 11; women's swimming and diving is one of 15; and men's cross country/track and field is one of 17.
Each spring, the NCAA releases a separate set of data, called the Academic Progress Rate (APR), which measures both academic performance and retention. Each program receives an APR score, with teams falling under a certain threshold subject to penalties such as loss of scholarships and postseason bans. The top 10 percent in each sport receive APR Public Recognition Awards from the NCAA, and last May, 10 of Bucknell's programs were so honored. All of Bucknell's programs easily met the NCAA minimum standard, and nine maintained perfect scores.
Bucknell sponsors 27 intercollegiate sports at the Division I level. It is a charter member of the Patriot League and has won the league's all-sports championship in 18 of the 29 years it has been contested.
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