INDIANAPOLIS – Illinois State student-athletes have earned an all-time high 92 percent Graduation Success Rate (GSR) as announced today by the NCAA. The Redbirds' 92 percent is their multi-year average for student-athletes who entered from 2015-16 through the 2018-19 academic year; and is the seventh-consecutive year that the Redbirds have earned a 90 percent or higher.
Twelve of 15 Redbird teams recorded a GSR that equaled or exceeded the national average in their respective sport. Seven teams achieved perfect 100 percent GSR rates including: women's golf, men's tennis, women's tennis, gymnastics, softball, women's swimming & diving and volleyball. Three additional teams achieved a 90 percent or higher score, including baseball (94 percent), women's soccer (96 percent) and women's cross country/track and field (93 percent).
"Obviously in the Athletics Department we are competitive, and I love that this number is a new record for us, but I think it's important to remember the young men and women that the number represents," ISU Director of Athletic Dr. Jeri Beggs said. "Getting a college degree is life-changing for our student-athletes and their families. I could not be prouder of the student-athletes who made this accomplishment possible."
Illinois State's single-year rate of 94 percent exceeds the NCAA's national overall single-cohort graduation success rate of 90 percent. The Redbirds' Federal Graduation Rate single-year (2018-19) rate of 71 percent exceeds the same for that of ISU's student body by six percent.
For a full listing of NCAA Division I Graduation Success Rates and the full database with trends, click HERE.
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