Tribe Athletics Among Nation’s Elite in Federal Graduation Rate

Women's Track and Cross Country One of Three W&M Program's with 100% Graduation Rate

11/09/06 6:30PM

Williamsburg - In the latest graduation data released by the NCAA, the College of William and Mary graduated 89% of its student-athletes who entered the school on athletics scholarship in the 1999-2000 academic year. This figure, which is taken from the Federal Graduation Rate, is even more impressive when compared to the national aggregate (63%) amongst all Division I schools.

“We’re reminded, by numbers like these, that our student athletes take a powerfully ennobling—unique, in my view—approach to their pursuits,” said William and Mary president Gene R. Nichol. “All who love the College take pride, and hope that the NCAA takes notice.”

Of the six sports that are individually highlighted in the NCAA report, William and Mary shows a 100% graduation rate in three (football, women’s basketball and women’s track and field/cross county).

The top figure in the nation was Duke University (91%), while the College’s total tied it for fifth-nationally, with Stanford University among others.

“Whether you look at our 96% NCAA Graduation Success Rate [released earlier this fall] or the most recent 89% Federal Graduation Rate, each figure shows we are amongst the top school’s in the nation when it comes to graduating our student-athletes,” says William and Mary Athletics Director, Terry Driscoll. “It confirms the continuing commitment by our athletes and coaches to the true student-athlete ideal. ”

From the last reporting period, the College has shown a marked improvement over both its one-year capsule (89%) and four-year class average gradation rates (86%) of five and three percent, respectively.

William and Mary’s graduation figures compare extremely well to the national average among both all students in general (61%) and, as stated in the opening paragraph, all student-athletes (63%) in Division I.

The most recent federal graduation rate data examines scholarship student-athletes who started college in 1999 and graduated within six years. The federal graduation rate methodology is required annually from colleges and universities as part of the 1990 Student Right-to-Know Act.