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 88 percent, when the rate was calculated using the criteria for the NCAA’s Graduation Success Rate (GSR).
Twelve Hawkeye teams posted a score at or above their score from 2023, seven teams were at or above the national average GSR and all Iowa teams are above a 74 percent GSR.
“We are incredibly proud of our student-athletes for this achievement,” said Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair Beth Goetz. “This accomplishment reflects their dedications and the support from our coaches and academic staff. We strive to create an environment where our athletes can thrive both academically and athletically.”
The Graduation Rates Institution Report gives graduation information about the most recent six-year graduating class of students and student-athletes who entered as freshmen in 2017-18. The Federal Graduation Rate indicates the percentage of freshmen who entered and received athletics aid during a given academic year who graduated within six years. The GSR adds to the first-time freshmen, those students who entered midyear as well as student athletes who transferred into an institution and received athletics aid.
Iowa’s 72 percent of the 2017 cohort is competitive with non-student-athletes (73 percent-2017 cohort). Iowa’s FGR of 72 four-class average percent is four points higher than the overall Division I FGR national average of 68 percent.
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.