MAAC Ranks 3rd Amongst DI Conferences in Graduation Success Rates

11/16/2016 4:28:00 PM

MAAC Sports

Edison, NJ – The NCAA recently released its conference “Graduation Success Rate” (GSR) report which tracks conference graduation trends over a four year time period (2006-2009). The report reflects data from all 32 conferences except the Ivy League.

Overall, in all sports, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) graduation rate for the 2009 cohort was 92% (1% higher than last year), placing the conference third amongst the 31 conferences included in the report. The highest overall GSR conference rate reported was 93% (same as last year). The MAAC consistently is ranked among the highest academic achievers in this report, 2007 and 2008 the GSR was both 91%.

Fairfield University garnered the highest overall GSR in the MAAC at 96%. Additionally, Manhattan College and Rider University followed suit with an overall GSR of 93%.

“The MAAC is fully committed to the success of its student-athletes in the classroom and in their sport of choice, and nothing better illustrates this mission than the high level of graduation reflected in the NCAA Graduation Success Rate analysis,” notes MAAC Commissioner, Rich Ensor. “Congratulations to the student-athletes who achieved the ultimate goal of college sports, to graduate with their degrees and become successful alumni in their chosen professions.”

Women’s basketball in the MAAC had an average graduation success rate of 100% for the cohort period (2006-2009) and is currently ranked first amongst the 31 conferences. Iona, Manhattan, Marist, Monmouth, Niagara, and Quinnipiac women’s basketball all achieved perfect scores.

Men’s basketball in the MAAC dropped its graduation success rate to 86% in the 2009 cohort (was 89% in 2008 cohort). The highest DI GSR reported in men’s basketball for the 2008 cohort is 95%. Canisius men’s basketball had the highest GSR in the MAAC at 94%. Fairfield, Monmouth, Quinnipiac, and Rider men’s basketball all eclipsed the 90% benchmark.

A long-term look at the NCAA DI GSR illustrates just how substantial the increases have been over the past 15 years, particularly among African‐American and Hispanic student‐athletes. African‐American male student‐athletes have increased their GSR by 19 percentage points to 70 percent during this time. African‐American females improved their rate 13 points to 84 percent over that same time. Hispanic student‐athletes have seen their GSR increase 18 points to 82 percent. For all Division I student‐athletes, the rate increased 12 percentage points in that time.