The Knights are graduating at a higher rate than any other NCAA Division I public institution in the nation.
The Graduation Success Rate rankings released by the NCAA Tuesday, stated that 95 percent of UCF athletes who enrolled in 2007 have earned degrees, which ties the Knights with Boston College for fifth-best in NCAA Division I (FBS), trailing only private institutions Notre Dame, Stanford, Duke and Northwestern.
“I’m incredibly proud of our Everyday Champion student-athletes, our coaches and the culture of academic excellence they’ve created here at UCF,” UCF Vice President and Director of Athletics Todd Stansbury said in a release. “This is obviously the result of a lot of hard work and a great support system. When you look at the institutions around us in the rankings, that’s a great neighborhood to live in.”
UCF’s GSR is 11 points above the national average and is also a school record.
The UCF football program tied for No. 10 nationally with a 90 percent GSR, placing third among public schools. The national average for other football programs was 75 percent.
“The level of achievement our student-athletes have been able to accomplish academically is truly extraordinary,” said Kimya Massey, UCF Associate Athletics Director for Academic Services in a release. “We are competing at the highest level nationally, both on the field and in the classroom. These latest NCAA metrics bear out that reality. Our student-athletes are graduating at an extremely high rate and also developing skills necessary for success in life, which is always the most important goal. We are extremely proud of this milestone. Kudos to the ASSA staff members, who work extremely hard to assist our student-athletes in their endeavors.”
Thirteen of UCF’s 14 programs such as women’s cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field are combined as one by the NCAA, are above the national average. Seven Knights programs – men’s golf, men’s tennis, rowing, women’s golf, women’s soccer, women’s tennis and volleyball – had perfect scores of 100 percent.
Nine UCF squads – football, men’s soccer and the seven mentioned above – were ranked No. 1 in the American Athletic Conference.
“This is just another example of the evolution and power of the UCF Athletics program and our move to national prominence, not just in competition but in the classroom as well,” Stansbury said in a release. “We believe that graduation is not the end, but the beginning for our Everyday Champions. Our program will be defined by the success of our graduates.”
Within the State of Florida, UCF is tops among all NCAA Division I institutions. Florida State ranks second at 84 percent, while Florida and USF are both at 83 percent. In the American Athletic Conference, UCF’s overall rate is also the top mark.
