Athletics posts 85 percent graduation success rate

NAU's 2014 Female Swim & Dive graduates

Northern Arizona University student-athletes posted an 85 percent Graduation Success Rate, the highest of the three state universities and tied for the best in the Big Sky Conference, according to information released this week by the NCAA.

Women’s cross country and track and field, golf and tennis teams led the way, with a perfect mark of 100. Both the women’s basketball and soccer teams earned a 90 percent or better GSR.

The NCAA Graduation Success Rate measures athletes’ graduation success rates at Division I institutions, including transfer student-athletes. The GSR also 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 rate was developed in response to college and university presidents who wanted graduation data that more accurately reflect the mobility among college students.

NAU’s 85 percent graduation success rate was the Lumberjacks’ best mark since the NCAA created the system.

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