NEW YORK -- 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 has the fourth highest overall Graduation Success Rate (GSR) among all 32 D-I conferences with 93 percent, which is three points higher than this year’s national average of 90 percent. The Graduation Success Rate, which measures six-year graduation rates, included student-athletes who entered school in the fall of 2018.

Of the 11 BIG EAST schools, 10 achieved a GSR of 91 percent or better, led by Marquette with 99 and Seton Hall and Villanova at 98 percent followed by Creighton and Georgetown at 97 percent.
 
“Academic accomplishment is of the utmost importance to BIG EAST institutions, and we are 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 achieve their goals and earn their college degrees." 
 
Three BIG EAST men’s basketball teams placed higher than the aggregate basketball GSR of 85. Seton Hall and Villanova both achieved GSR scores of 100.  Nine women’s basketball teams earned the Division I women’s basketball GSR national average of 92 or higher with UConn, Creighton, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, Seton Hall and Villanova all having a GSR score of 100. 
 
Across the BIG EAST, 100 teams achieved perfect GSR scores of 100 across all 11 conference institutions.  The following are the number of teams per institution: Butler - 6; Connecticut - 8; Creighton - 12; DePaul - 2; Georgetown - 14; Marquette - 10; Providence - 8; St. John’s - 6; Seton Hall - 11; Villanova - 14; and Xavier - 9.