SSC Remains NCAA Division II Leader in Academic Success Rate

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Sunshine State Conference continues to lead the nation in NCAA Division II Academic Success Rate (ASR). On Wednesday, November 14th, the NCAA released ASR data for all 24 NCAA Division II conferences, with the SSC on top for a third consecutive year.

SSC member institutions posted an ASR of 86-percent for the eighth consecutive year to lead all of Division II. The Northeast-10 Conference ties the SSC in the latest ratings for the second consecutive year. The SSC and NE-10 have claimed the top two spots in the conference-by-conference comparison every year since the NCAA ASR performance rankings began in January 2008.

“Retaining the top NCAA Academic Success ranking in Division II is proof of the exceptional work ethic of Sunshine State Conference student-athletes” stated SSC Commissioner Ed Pasque. “Students, coaches, and administrators should be proud of the league’s academic strength and commitment to excellence in the classroom.”

The national four-year ASR for all Division II student-athletes increased to 73-percent, while SSC student-athletes performed above that mark in every sport, led by women’s tennis, women’s lacrosse, women’s volleyball, men’s golf, and women’s golf with ASR rates of 94-percent or above. Twelve sports scored above the SSC’s average of 86-percent, with 10 scoring in the 90’s.

This graduation rate data, which is announced annually by the NCAA, is based on a six-year cohort prescribed by the U.S. Department of Education. Beyond traditional student-athletes, Division II ASR includes those not receiving scholarships and transfers, while removing students who left the institutions in good standing.

The NCAA will soon announce which Division II schools receive the Presidents’ Award for Academic Excellence, an annual recognition of schools scoring above a 90-percent ASR. Last year Eckerd College, Rollins College, Barry University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Florida Southern College were honored. Rollins and Eckerd have earned the accolade each of the last seven years, while Barry repeated for the third consecutive year.

About the Academic Success Rate

Academic Success Rate is the percentage of student-athletes who graduate within six years of initial enrollment in college and includes virtually all Division II student-athletes, including transfers and those not receiving athletic scholarships.

The Division II ASR also captures about 50-percent more college athletes than the federal graduation rate. Unlike the federal graduation rate, the ASR also counts student-athletes who transfer to a school after initial enrollment elsewhere and removes from the rate student-athletes who leave school while academically eligible. The national ASR is 73-percent for student-athletes who entered college from 2008 through 2011.

Regardless of which measure is used, Division II college athletes graduate at a higher rate than the general student body. The federal rate for the 2011 entering class of student-athletes was 57-percent, compared to 50-percent for the general student body.

Academic Success Rate Ranking By NCAA Division II Conference