Elon student-athletes continue to set the pace for graduation success rate

The NCAA recently announced the 2020-21 graduation success rate and federal graduation rate data for all Division I institutions as part of the annual NCAA Division I Academic Performance Program.

This year’s Elon-specific data is highlighted by an overall single-year graduation success rate (GSR) of 98 percent, which leads the way for all Colonial Athletic Association institutions. Additionally, nine programs earned a perfect 100 percent score. Those programs include:

• Men’s Basketball
• Men’s Cross-Country
• Men’s Golf
• Women’s Basketball
• Women’s Golf
• Women’s Lacrosse
• Women’s Soccer
• Women’s Tennis
• Volleyball

Elon is one of two schools in the CAA that had every athletic program achieve a GSR of 85 percent or higher.

“I am continually proud of the commitment that our student-athletes display in achieving both academic and athletic success,” said Director of Athletics Dave Blank. “They consistently strive to be the best they can be both in and out of our competition venues. The 2021 Graduation Success Rate report shows the drive that Elon student-athletes possess to succeed in both arenas. It’s also a great testament to the invaluable mentorship and support our coaches, staff, and faculty provide on a daily basis.”

Other highlights include:

• The Elon football team’s 98 percent GSR is the highest in the Colonial Athletic Association. It is tied for sixth nationally among schools that compete in the Football Championship Subdivision.
• The Elon men’s basketball program earned a perfect GSR of 100 percent for the eighth consecutive year. Since joining the CAA in 2014-15, Elon is one of two schools to have had a 100 percent GSR every year.
• The Elon women’s basketball program was one of four CAA schools with a 100 percent GSR. This year marks the seventh-straight year Elon women’s basketball has had a GSR percentage of 90 or above. This year marks the fifth time since 2007-08 that Elon had a 100 percent GSR.
• Elon baseball’s 96 percent GSR ties for the top mark in the CAA and marks the fifth consecutive year above 90 percent.
• This marks the 12th straight year Elon women’s golf recorded a 100 percent GSR. The team has had a GSR of 90 or above for 15 consecutive years.
• Women’s soccer recorded a 100 percent GSR this year. Since 2005, the Elon women’s soccer program has recorded a GSR of 93 or higher every year, including a perfect 100 percent on seven occasions.
• Women’s tennis earned a perfect 100 percent GSR in the latest report, marking the seventh straight year the program earned a 100 percent.
• The Elon men’s cross-country team recorded a perfect 100 percent score and the women’s cross country and track and field programs earned a 96 percent score in the latest report. It marks the seventh straight year the men’s program has earned a 100 percent GSR. The women’s team has now been above 95 percent in every GSR release to date.
• Men’s golf earned a perfect 100 percent GSR in the latest report, marking the third consecutive year the program earned a 100 percent.
  The second class in the women’s lacrosse program history earned another perfect 100 percent GSR.
• Women’s volleyball recorded a perfect 100 percent GSR. This year marks the 12th year since 2005 that the program has recorded a perfect score.

The GSR measures graduation rates of scholarship student-athletes at Division I institutions. It includes those transferring into the institutions. The GSR allows institutions to subtract student-athletes who leave their institutions prior to graduation, as long as they would have been academically eligible to compete had they remained. The 2020-21 rates are based on the entering classes from 2011-14.

The NCAA’s GSR was developed in response to a mandate by college and university presidents for graduation data that more accurately reflects the mobility among today’s college students. Both rates improve on the federally mandated graduation rate by including students who were omitted from the federal calculation.