W&M remains among nation's elite in graduating student-athletes
The College of William and Mary's Athletics Department showed a Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 95 percent among its student-athletes who entered school on athletics scholarships in the 1999-02 athletics year in data recently released by the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA).
The national average among all Division I schools was 79 percent. William and Mary's average of 95 percent was the top mark in both the Colonial Athletics Association and among all Division I Virginia schools.
"We are committed to producing true student-athletes," stated Tribe Athletics Director Terry Driscoll. "This athletics program, like the school itself, values the development of well-rounded individuals who are prepared to be leaders, both academically and athletically. Our coaches, athletes and administrators work extremely hard to prepare our student-athletes for life beyond the playing fields and this accomplishment is a direct reflection of the high standard we all strive to achieve."
The College's federal graduation rate sits at 87 percent among its student-athletes receiving athletics scholarships, which compares even more favorably with the national average of 64 percent. William and Mary's four-year class average with the federal rate is 86 percent (while the national average rests at 63 percent).
Of the 19 total programs audited by the NCAA for a GSR, the College was above the national average in 18, with gymnastics, soccer and tennis graduating 100 percent on the men's side and basketball, track/cross country, golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, tennis and volleyball achieving a perfect mark on the women's side.
The Tribe's football program showed a 94 percent GSR, which puts it well above the national average for the Football Championship Series (FCS) of 64 percent. The men's basketball program turned in a 86 percent GSR, which also towered over the national average for the sport at 64 percent. The women's hoops program's 100 percent rating is a full 17 percent about the national average score of 83.
The figures released by the NCAA also include overall GSR data for all Division I programs combined and nationally for each sport. In addition, the figures include the federal graduation rate data for each Division I department and selected varsity sports (football, baseball, men's and women's basketball, track and field).
