For Fourth Straight Year, UCF Athletes Top NCAA Graduation Rankings

For a fourth consecutive year, UCF student-athletes are graduating at a higher rate than any other NCAA Division I FBS public institution in the nation.

Based on data released by the NCAA Wednesday, UCF has an overall Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 94 percent. That mark is one point higher than last year and leads all public colleges and universities in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision. It also puts the Knights in seventh place in all of NCAA Division I FBS. The Knights trail only private institutions Notre Dame, Stanford, Northwestern, Duke, Vanderbilt and Boston College.

UCF’s GSR of 94 is seven points above the national average of 87.

“I’m consistently impressed with the dedication our student-athletes have to success in the classroom and in competition,” UCF Vice President and Director of Athletics Daniel J. White said. “The most important goal a UCF student-athlete should have is graduation. Our student-athletes, coaches, academic staff and administration share that common goal. We’re very proud our ranking in Graduation Success Rate, especially when you look at the schools we’re surrounded by.”

Thirteen of UCF’s 14 programs (women’s cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field are combined by the NCAA for the purposes of GSR) are at or above the national averages both for FBS institutions and for all NCAA Division I institutions. Seven programs – men’s golf, women’s basketball, women’s track and field/cross country, rowing, women’s golf, women’s tennis and volleyball – delivered perfect scores of 100 percent. At 92 percent, the Knights’ football program ranks No. 7 in the nation among FBS schools and owns the second-best GSR among all FBS public institutions.

Eleven of UCF’s 14 programs came in at 90 percent or better.

Within the State of Florida, UCF’s overall GSR of 94 is tops among all NCAA Division I institutions (including FBS and FCS). Miami and Stetson are tied for the No. 2 spot on the state list at 91 percent.

Eight UCF programs boast the top score among FBS schools in the State of Florida and in the American Athletic Conference – football, men’s golf, women’s basketball, women’s track and field/cross country, rowing, women’s golf, women’s tennis and volleyball. In addition, men’s soccer boasts the top GSR among FBS schools in Florida.

The GSR data in this report includes student-athletes who first enrolled in 2010. The NCAA Graduation Success Rate is designed to show the proportion of student-athletes who earn a college degree.