NEW YORK – In the annual graduation rate data released by the NCAA, the BIG EAST Conference continues to be an academic leader among Division I conferences.
 
For the second straight year, the BIG EAST tied for second among all 32 D-I conferences with an overall Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 95 percent and a Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) of 78 percent. 

The Graduation Success Rate, which measures six-year graduation rates, included student-athletes who entered school in the fall of 2013. 
 
“Academic accomplishment is of the utmost importance to BIG EAST schools, and we’re very proud that our student-athletes continue to achieve at the highest level in the classroom,” said BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman.  “We applaud the faculty members, academic professionals and administrators on each of our ten campuses for their efforts in helping our student-athletes win the ultimate prize:  a college degree.”
 
BIG EAST men’s basketball has continued to increase its GSR the last four years, and its 90 percent rate ranked ninth among the D-I conferences, moving up five places from last year.  Five teams were above the national average of 87 percent, with Seton Hall and Villanova achieving rates of 100 percent.

BIG EAST women’s basketball teams moved up 12 positions to sixth place with a 94 percent GSR.  Eight teams were above the national average of 93 percent with Connecticut, Creighton, DePaul, Georgetown, St. John’s, Seton Hall and Villanova at 100 percent.  

Baseball continued its extremely strong performance with its GSR at 96 percent, which ranked third nationally.   

All 11 BIG EAST schools achieved a GSR of 92 percent or better. 
 
The NCAA Division I Board of Directors created the GSR in 2002 to address the interest of Division I college and university presidents in data that more accurately reflects the mobility of college students beyond what the federal graduation rate measures. 
 
The GSR formula removes from the rate student-athletes who leave school while academically eligible and includes student-athletes who transfer to a school after initially enrolling elsewhere.
 
The federal graduation rate however remains the only measure to compare student-athletes with the general student body.  Using this measure, student-athletes graduate at the same rate as the student body – 68 percent.