CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois student-athletes are graduating above the national average as the NCAA released its Graduation Success Rate this week. EIU's GSR average was 86 for student-athletes. The average for all NCAA Division I institutions was 81 while the rate for Football Championship Subdivision level schools was 79.
EIU men's basketball has a GSR of 93 compared to the national rate of 72. EIU football posted an 84 compared to the FCS football average rate of 71.
Three EIU athletic teams; softball, men's golf and men's tennis posted GSR's of 100 percent.
The NCAA developed the Graduation Success Rate to more accurately assess the academic success of student-athletes. The rate holds institutions accountable for transfer students, unlike the federal graduation rate. The GSR also accounts for mid-year enrollees and is calculated for every sport.
Under the calculation, institutions are not penalized for outgoing transfer students who leave in good academic standing. The outgoing transfers are included in the receiving institution's GSR cohort.
The most recent Division I Graduation Success Rates are based on the four entering classes from 2003-04 through 2006-07. The NCAA began compiling these figures with the entering freshmen class of 1995.
