NEW YORK (December 12, 2023) -- In the annual graduation rate data released by the NCAA, the BIG EAST Conference continues to excel as an academic leader among Division I conferences.
 
The BIG EAST ranks second among all 32 D-I conferences with an overall Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 97 percent, up two points from last year and six points higher than this year’s national average of 91 percent. The Graduation Success Rate, which measures six-year graduation rates, included student-athletes who entered school in the fall of 2016.
 
For the past two years, the BIG EAST had ranked third among the D-I conferences.
 
All 11 BIG EAST schools achieved a single-year overall GSR of 90 percent or above, led by Creighton, Georgetown and Seton Hall with 100 percent followed by Marquette, Providence and Villanova with 98 percent.
 
“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 all of our campuses for their efforts in helping our student-athletes win the ultimate prize:  a college degree.”
 
Eight BIG EAST men’s basketball teams placed higher than the Division I basketball GSR average of 86.  Butler, DePaul, Georgetown, Seton Hall and Villanova all had achieved GSR scores of 100.
Ten women’s basketball teams earned higher than the Division I basketball GSR national average of 93 with UConn, Creighton, DePaul, Georgetown, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall and Villanova all having a GSR score of 100 for the class entering 2016.  The BIG EAST was also one of seven conferences to have a 100% overall GSR in the sport of women’s basketball.
 
The BIG EAST also leads the way nationally in baseball with a GSR of 100.
 
One hundred six BIG EAST teams achieved perfect GSR scores of 100 across all 11 conference institutions.  The following are the number of teams per institution: Butler 8, Connecticut 9, Creighton 11, DePaul 8, Georgetown 16, Marquette 6, Providence 11, St. John’s 5, Seton Hall 10, Villanova 14 and Xavier 8.
 
The BIG EAST:
The BIG EAST Conference is an association of 11 nationally prominent colleges and universities that foster healthy athletic competition, community service and the pursuit of excellence in academic environments.  The BIG EAST-sponsored athletic programs of our institutions provide national-caliber participation opportunities for more than 3,800 student-athletes on over 200 men’s and women’s teams in 22 sports.  Established in 1979 and headquartered in New York City, the BIG EAST’s members are located in eight of the country’s top 36 largest media markets and include Butler University, University of Connecticut, Creighton University, DePaul University, Georgetown University, Marquette University, Providence College, St. John’s University, Seton Hall University, Villanova University and Xavier University.  For more information, visit www.bigeast.com.