USF’s 85 percent GSR is just shy of record 86 percent posted in 2016
TAMPA, OCT. 16, 2019 – University of South Florida student-athletes continue to excel in the classroom, as the Bulls posted an 85 percent Graduation Success Rate (GSR) in the latest data released for all Division I institutions by the NCAA on Wednesday as part of the annual NCAA Division I Academic Performance Program.
The 85 percent Graduation Success Rate encompasses USF scholarship student-athletes that entered school from 2009-12 and graduated within a six-year period. The score marked the second-best GSR score ever for USF and the athletic program’s sixth straight year with a GSR of 82 percent or better.
“I am very proud of USF student-athletes’ continued strong performance in the classroom and the culture and commitment to academic achievement established by our coaches and staff,” USF Vice President of Athletics Michael Kelly said. “Our excellent Academic Services staff continues to provide outstanding support as we continue to build champions in the classroom, the community and in competition,”
The 85 percent GSR was an improvement over last year’s 84 percent mark. USF posted a record 86 percent GSR in 2016.
Four programs posted a perfect 100 percent GSR and 11 of 14 USF sports programs in the NCAA report posted an 80 percent or better GSR with six logging a 90 percent or better score.
Programs with a perfect 100 score included men’s tennis, women’s tennis, women’s golf and the 2019 conference champion softball team.
Head coach Ken Eriksen’s softball program posted a 100 percent GSR score for the eight straight time and 10th time in the 15 years of GSR reporting. The women’s tennis program, under head coach Cristina Moros, had a perfect GSR score for the sixth straight time and ninth time in program history.
The women’s golf program, under head coach Erika Brennan, logged a 100 percent GSR for the fourth straight season and USF Athletics record 11th time in program history. The men’s tennis program, under head coach Ashley Fisher, posted a program record 100 percent GSR score for the second straight year, which marked the sixth straight year the program’s GSR score rose or held steady at 100.
Other highlights from the latest GSR report included the football program’s 77 percent GSR, marking the third straight season with an increase and second highest in program history behind the 82 percent posted in the 2016 report. The baseball program posted an 81 percent GSR, marking the third straight year with a gain and the program’s highest since 92 percent in 2002.
Men’s golf also saw an improved GSR for the fifth straight year and its 86 percent mark is its highest since posting 100 percent in 2004. The men’s basketball program also saw improvement or the third straight year.
The conference champion women’s soccer team logged a 91 percent score to mark its 11th time in the last 12 reports over 90 percent. Women’s track and field and cross country were also over 90 percent for the seventh straight year.
USF has graduated more than 250 student-athletes in the last three years and has posted an overall annual department grade-point average in excess of 3.0 for a program-record four straight years and nine straight semesters.
The Graduation Success Rate provides data about the most recent six-year graduating class of student-athletes receiving athletics aid and entering college as freshmen in 2012-13. The GSR is designed to show the proportion of student-athletes graduating within in a six-year window, accounting for transferring student-athletes coming into the institution and student-athletes leaving the institution in good standing.
The most recent data is based on percentage of student-athletes who entered college in 2012 and earned a degree. The NCAA developed the Division I Graduation Success Rate in response to college and university presidents who wanted graduation data that more accurately reflect the mobility among all college students today. Both the Graduation Success Rate and the Academic Progress Rate account for the academic outcomes of student-athletes who transfer from one institution to another.
About USF Athletics
USF Athletics sponsors 19 varsity men’s and women’s teams that compete in 11 different sports, 18 at the NCAA Division I level in the American Athletic Conference. The Bulls’ athletic program began in 1965 and is in its 53rd season in 2018-19. Nearly 500 student-athletes train and compete in the athletic district located on the east end of the campus in Tampa, Fla. The Bulls have claimed 18 American Athletic Conference team titles since joining the conference in 2013, and own 119 conference titles overall. Eleven USF programs reached national postseason competition in the 2018-19 season and six were ranked in the Top 25 nationally. The Bulls posted a combined annual grade-point average over 3.0 for the fourth straight year in 2018-19 and have posted a program record nine straight semesters with a combined GPA over 3.0. USF has had more than 250 student-athletes earn their degree in the last three years.
Follow USF Athletics on Twitter (@USFAthletics) and Facebook for all the latest information concerning the USF Athletic program.
– #GoBulls –
