NEW YORK (December 3, 2024) -- 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 third among all 32 D-I conferences with an overall Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 95 percent, which is four 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 2017.
 
All 11 BIG EAST schools achieved a single-year GSR of 91 percent or better, led by Georgetown, Seton Hall and Villanova at 98 percent followed by Creighton and Marquette at 97 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.”
 
Five BIG EAST men’s basketball teams placed higher than the Division I basketball GSR average of 87. Seton Hall and Villanova both achieved GSR scores of 100.  Eight women’s basketball teams earned higher than the Division I basketball GSR national average of 93 with UConn, Creighton, DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, Seton Hall and Villanova all having a GSR score of 100 for the class entering 2017.  The BIG EAST also led the way nationally in baseball with a GSR of 100.