Nov. 20, 2009

ATHENS, Ohio-Ohio student-athletes who entered school between 1999 and 2002 boasted a Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 84 percent, five points higher than the national Division I institutional average of 79 percent according to figures released Thursday by the NCAA.

In this year's release, field hockey, men’s and women’s golf, swimming and volleyball all had perfect (100 percent) rates.

The Bobcats also graduated 93 percent of their student-athletes who completed their eligibility during that period, an accomplishment that stands as one of the top marks nationally.

“I’m so proud of the academic accomplishments of our student-athletes,” said Ohio Director of Athletics Jim Schaus. “These reports substantiate academic excellence in the critical areas of graduation rates and overall scholastic progress.”

The men's basketball program's rate of 85 percent is 21 percent higher than the national average, while the Ohio football team's mark of 76 percent is nine percent higher than the national Football Bowl Subdivision mark.

The NCAA developed the GSR to more accurately assess long-term student-athlete academic success. The GSR differs from the federally mandated graduation-rate methodology in that it counts transfers into and out of an institution.