UVA Athletics achieves its highest graduation success rate ever

The NCAA’s release of its annual Graduation Success Rate (GSR) data for incoming student-athletes from 2008-2011 is the highest by UVA student-athletes since the NCAA began issuing the report. Cavalier student-athletes covered during the current report graduated at a 92 percent rate, up two percent from last year’s report which was the previous high for UVA athletics. The NCAA’s national average for this year’s reporting range is 88 percent.

The NCAA initially launched the GSR in 1998.

The Graduation Success Rate measures graduation rates for student-athletes by team, considering student-athletes who are on scholarship their first year and who graduate from their respective university or leave the program via transfer to another university or professional opportunities while in good academic standing.

A complete and searchable Graduation Rates Report is available online at NCAA.org.

“These are very impressive numbers and we are proud to celebrate the academic success of our student-athletes,” said Virginia athletics director Carla Williams. “These results are a testament to the tremendous commitment to academic excellence from student-athletes, faculty, academic support staff and coaches.”

The data shows that 15 of the Virginia’s 21 programs matched or exceed the national average (88 percent) for their respective GSR scores. Nine UVA programs recorded perfect 100 percent graduation rates: Men’s Golf, Men’s Tennis, Women’s Basketball, Women’s Cross Country and Track & Field, Women’s Golf, Women’s Lacrosse, Women’s Soccer, Women’s Swimming & Diving and Volleyball.

Two of Virginia’s program’s – men’s tennis and volleyball – posted 100 percent graduation rates for the 14th consecutive year, which covers the entire history of the report. The Cavalier women’s golf team had a 100 percent rate for the ninth straight year, which covers the history of its program. Men’s golf posted a perfect rate for the eighth consecutive year while women’s cross country/track & field and women’s swimming achieved a perfect mark for the fifth straight year. The UVA women’s lacrosse team had its ninth 100 percent graduation total in the 14-year history of the report.