Lock Haven, Pa. - Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference student-athletes have established a Federal Graduation Rate of 65% and an Academic Success Rate of 75% according to data recently released by the NCAA.
The league’s Graduation Rate is up one percent over the previous year and ranks second best among Division II’s 22 Conferences. Only the Northeast-10, at 70%, ranks above the PSAC.
The Federal Graduation Rate data includes only student-athletes who received financial aid during their freshman year. The current figures are based on those student-athletes who entered college during the fall semesters of 1999 through 2002. During that period PSAC institutions graduated 2,113 student-athletes out of the 3,230 who enrolled. The league’s 65% rate is 10% higher than both the national average for Division II and for general student enrollment at league institutions.
PSAC figures in terms of Academic Success Rate remain the same as last year, ranking the league sixth (tie) among Division II conferences. The Sunshine State (85%) and Northeast-10 (84%) Conferences have the top ratings over the four-year period.
The ASR standard is similar to graduation rates, yet the data pool includes transfers, students enrolling during the second term and any freshmen who did not receive financial aid in their initial season. The ASR also differs from the graduation rate compilations as it excludes any student-athlete who left the institution and was academically eligible at the time of their departure. For PSAC schools 5,221 out of 6,966 student-athletes graduated using the ASR data guidelines.
“We are proud that our student-athletes and our member institutions place a high priority in earning a degree,” said PSAC Commissioner Steve Murray. “To rank in the top third of Division II is a worthy accomplishment, yet we will continue to strive for even greater degree completion percentages in the future.”
In a comparison of some notable sports, PSAC women’s basketball ranked tied for fifth in Graduation Rates (67%) and tied for seventh in ASR (81%). Men’s basketball (52% GR, 61% ASR) ranked eighth in both categories. Of the 13 conferences that sponsor football, the PSAC was third in Graduation Rates (52%) and tied for fourth in ASR (61%).
Of the PSAC’s 16 full-time members, six schools carry an ASR of at least 80%, headlined by Millersville at 88% and California at 86%. Following those institutions are Shippensburg (82%), West Chester (81%), and IUP and Bloomsburg (80%). The average ASR for a Division II institution is 74%.
California had the highest Graduation Rate among league schools at 72%, followed by Millersville and IUP at 70%.