Bucknell Athletics National Co-Leader in NCAA Graduation Success Rate

LEWISBURG, Pa. – The NCAA issued its latest graduation rates report on Wednesday, and Bucknell Athletics continues to produce some of the highest figures in the nation. Under the NCAA's Graduation Success Rate (GSR) formula, 23 of Bucknell's 27 varsity programs, including all 14 women's programs, maintained perfect scores of 100 for student-athletes entering college in 2016, which led to an overall GSR of 99 percent that is tied for the highest among all Division I institutions. Additionally, according to the U.S. Department of Education's more-restrictive graduation-rate standards, Bucknell ranks in a tie for ninth nationally with a four-class average of 89 percent.

Five Division I institutions produced GSR scores of 99 percent, with Bucknell joining Columbia, Harvard, Villanova, and Yale. All 10 Patriot League institutions came in at 91 percent or better. This is Bucknell's second straight year at 99 percent, and it is the second straight year that all 14 women's programs scored 100 percent.

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.

The following Bison programs have perfect 100 percent GSR ratings in the latest report: baseball, women's basketball, men's and women's cross country/track & field, field hockey, men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, rowing, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming & diving, women's tennis, volleyball, and men's and women's water polo. The Bison football (97%), men's basketball (92%), and wrestling (90%) squads all hit the 90-percent mark.
The national GSR for the entering class of 2016 went up one point to 91 percent, which is the highest rate recorded, according to the NCAA.

Northwestern led the way with a federal graduation rate (FGR) of 95%, followed by Stanford at 94%. Note that the Ivy League schools and service academies do not fully report FGR data.

By the federal guidelines, these Bison programs boast perfect 100-percent graduation rates: women's golf, men's lacrosse, rowing, men's soccer, men's and women's tennis, and volleyball.

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 33 years it has been contested.

Bucknell Athletics National Co-Leader in NCAA Graduation Success Rate

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