McLean County Times

For the sixth consecutive year, Illinois State University (ISU) student-athletes have achieved a 90 percent Graduation Success Rate (GSR), as announced by the NCAA. This rate matches the national multi-year average for all Division I institutions for student-athletes who began their studies between the 2014-15 and 2017-18 academic years. ISU's multi-year score has consistently remained above 85 percent since 2002.

The university's single-year GSR of 94 percent surpasses the NCAA's overall single-cohort graduation success rate of 91 percent. Additionally, ISU's Federal Graduation Rate for the single year of 2017-18 stands at 73 percent, which is seven percentage points higher than that of ISU's general student body.

"While academic excellence has become the standard in Redbird Athletics, I don't want anyone to underestimate how impressive these results are nor how hard the student-athletes, coaches and staff work to make these numbers possible," stated Dr. Jeri Beggs, Illinois State Interim Director of Athletics. "It takes a culture where everyone buys into the priority of academic excellence."

Ten out of fifteen Redbird teams recorded a GSR that equaled or exceeded the national average in their respective sports. These sports include baseball, football, men's tennis, women's golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, women's tennis and volleyball.

Seven teams achieved perfect GSR rates of 100 percent: women's golf, men's tennis, women's tennis, gymnastics, women's soccer, softball and volleyball. Four additional teams scored 90 percent or higher: women's basketball, baseball, women's swimming & diving and men's golf.

"The increases and record highs in graduation success rates over the last two decades demonstrate the unique talents, abilities and tenacity of college athletes to achieve academic excellence while performing at the highly competitive level of Division I athletics," commented Robert Davies, president emeritus of Central Michigan and chair of the Division I Committee on Academics. "The Committee on Academics applauds student-athletes for their remarkable achievements and celebrates college educators and campus leaders for their commitment to advancing student-athlete academic success."

For further details on NCAA Division I Graduation Success Rates and access to a comprehensive database with trends information is available online.

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