Oct. 28, 2014

NCAA Release | NCAA GSR Database

COLUMBUS, Ohio — In graduation data released by the NCAA today, Ohio State student-athletes have a four-class average (2004-07) of 89 percent in the Graduation Success Rate (GSR) and, in the 2007-08 cohort, have a Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) of 75 percent.

“Once again, whether one uses the NCAA’s GSR or the Federal FGR, the data illustrate that the vast majority of Ohio State student-athletes are graduating,” Professor John P. Bruno (Depts. of Psychology and Neuroscience), Ohio State’s faculty athletics representative, said. “In addition, those that choose to leave the University (to pursue professional opportunities or to transfer to another institution) were on schedule to graduate at the time of their departure. Thus, there is nothing inherently antagonistic between participating in intercollegiate athletics and obtaining a degree from OSU.”

The GSR and FGR metrics provide slightly different perspectives on graduation. The FGR assesses only first-time full-time freshmen in a given cohort and only counts them as academic successes if they graduate from their institution of initial enrollment within a six-year period. It makes no accommodation for transfers into or out of an institution. The rate is limited because it ignores the large number of transfer students in higher education, but it is still the only rate that allows a direct comparison between student-athletes and the general student body. GSR begins with the federal cohort, and adds transfer students, mid-year enrollees and certain non-scholarship students to the sample. Student-athletes who leave an institution while in good academic standing before exhausting athletics eligibility are removed from the cohort of their initial institution.

“The GRS provides a more complete and accurate look at actual student-athlete success by taking into account the full variety of participants in Division I athletics and tracking their academic outcomes,” Bruno said.

For the four-class average (classes entering Ohio State between 2004-07), the GSR for student-athletes was 89 percent for the second year in a row and greater than the recent Division I average (84 percent). More specifically, 23 Ohio State programs are ahead of the national GSR for their sports. Of those, 12 teams have a 100 percent GSR: men’s fencing, men’s golf, men’s gymnastics, rifle, men’s tennis, men’s volleyball, rowing, women’s fencing, field hockey, softball, women’s tennis and women’s volleyball. Another six of those teams are above 90 percent in the GSR: men’s lacrosse, women’s basketball, women’s cross country/track, women’s lacrosse, women’s soccer and women’s swimming.

During that four-class time period , the federal rate for OSU student-athletes (75 percent) was well above the D1 average of 66 percent yet, for the first time, trailed that of the Ohio State student body (81 percent).

Nine of Ohio State’s programs have an FGR above 90 percent: men’s lacrosse, men’s tennis, women’s basketball, women’s cross country/track, women’s fencing, field hockey, women’s lacrosse, softball and women’s swimming, with men’s tennis, women’s fencing, field hockey and softball at 100 percent.

The Ohio State football program has a GSR of 78 percent, equal to the 78 percent posted a year ago and the 74 percent from two years ago. It is well above the 67 and 63 percent marks from three and four years prior, respectively. It is also above the 71 percent for FBS programs nationally.

Bruno said the numbers show the importance Ohio State student-athletes and staff place on academics.

“Collectively, these data are a testimony to the academic commitment of our student-athletes and their coaching staffs, as well as the dedication of our academic support services,” he said.