IOWA CITY, Iowa – According to the NCAA’s annual report on the academic successes across the country, University of Iowa student-athletes graduated at a rate of 89 percent, when the rate was calculated using the criteria for the NCAA’s “Graduation Success Rate,” or “GSR.” That number matches Iowa’s GSR average over the past eight years.
Three UI teams scored a perfect GSR: women’s golf, softball and women’s swimming & diving. Twelve Hawkeye teams posted a score at or above their score from 2020, 11 teams were at or above the national average for GSR.
“The graduation rates achieved by our student-athletes continue to uphold our department value statement to Win. Graduate. Do It Right.” said Gary Barta, Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair. “Along with their recent success in earning multiple Big Ten championships, our students continue to match those accomplishments with their academic success. I appreciate the commitment our student-athletes continue to make both in competition and in their academics.”
Student-athletes who attended the University of Iowa from 2011-2014 graduated at a rate of 75 percent when the rate was calculated under the criteria of the federal government’s benchmark for graduation success (FGR). This is competitive with the score posted by the University of Iowa student-body (72 percent). Thirteen UI teams were at or above the national average within their sport for FGR.
The NCAA introduced the GSR in 2005 to more accurately assess the academic success of student-athletes. Unlike the federal graduation rate, the GSR holds institutions accountable for transfer students. The GSR also accounts for midyear enrollees.
