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NCAA Division II Graduation Rates Trend Report
86% Academic Success Rate Places NE10 at Top of All NCAA Division II Conferences
Bentley and Saint Michael's Tie for National Lead, Seven NE10 Schools Rank in Top 50 Overall
MANSFIELD, Mass. - Earlier this week, the NCAA released it's annual Academic Success Rate (ASR) report for all 24 NCAA Division II conferences, and the Northeast-10 Conference was the top-ranked Conference with an overall mark of 86-percent. The NE10 improved 1% from last year's release and is now tied among all 24 NCAA Division II Conferences with the Sunshine State.
Overall, NE10 membership produced a total of 5,225 graduates among its 6,076 student-athletes who enrolled during the period 2007-10.
Bentley University and Saint Michael's College were tied for first in the nation among the Division's more-than 300 member schools. Bentley, Saint Michael's and Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) all achieved an ASR of 98% for the most recent cycle. Saint Michael's posted at least a 98 percent showing for the ninth consecutive four-year cycle, matching its 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 figure after reaching 99 percent in both 2010 and 2011.
Only six schools achieved at least a 97% ASR, three of which are members of the NE10 as Stonehill College (97%) also achieved this prestigious accomplishment. Assumption came in ranked tied for 14th overall, while Saint Rose, Le Moyne, and Franklin Pierce all came in among the top 50 in all of Division II. All seven of these schools acheived an ASR of 87% or greater.
"Once again, this year's Academic Success Rate release from the NCAA illustrates that our institutions and our student-athletes are truly committed to success well beyond the playing field. These individuals are able to balance high-level athletic competition with a similar dedication to academic pursuits. I am thrilled and proud to see us return to the top spot." said NE10 Commissioner Julie Ruppert.
77 total programs, which represents approximately 30% of all NE10 teams posted perfect ASR scores. Saint Michael's led the way with 14 of their programs graduating all of their student-athletes measured in this cohort, followed by Bentley with 12.
The sports of field hockey, women’s basketball and volleyball each had eight institutions earn perfect scores of 100. The eight teams represents over one-half of the conference’s sponsorship in each sport. On the men’s side, men’s golf and men’s tennis led the way with four institutions earning a 100% score.
23 of the Conferences’ 24 sposored sports had a four-year ASR rate above 80%, including all 12 women's sports. Field Hockey led the way with an ASR of 99, followed by women’s swimming. On the men’s side, men’s tennis (94) and men’s ice hockey (92) earned top scores.
The NE10 and the Sunshine State have claimed the top two spots in the conference-by-conference comparison every year since the NCAA ASR performance rankings began in January 2008.
“Student-athletes in Division II continue to excel in the classroom, on the field of play and in their communities,” said Terri Steeb Gronau, vice president of Division II. “These increased graduation rates reflect the efforts of Division II student-athletes and schools to prepare students for success in life, and we are proud of their achievements.”
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. The national ASR is 72% for student-athletes who entered college from 2007-2010. Because of the division’s partial scholarship financial aid model, the ASR also includes the more than 36,000 nonscholarship student-athletes who enrolled from 2007 through 2010, the four years covered in the most recent data.
About the Academic Success Rate
Academic Success Rate (ASR) 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 NCAA Division II ASR also captures about 50% more college athletes than the federal graduation rate. Unlike the federal rate, the ASR also includes student-athletes who transfer to a school after initial enrollment elsewhere and removes the rate student-athletes who leave school while academically eligible.
Regardless of measuring tool, NCAA Division II student-athletes graduate at a significantly higher rate than the general student body. The federal rate for the 2010 entering class of student-athletes was 56%, compared to 50% for the general student body.
ASR Ranking By NCAA Division II Conference
| Northeast-10 Conference | 86% |
| Sunshine State Conference | 86% |
| Great Lakes Valley Conference | 84% |
| Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference | 80% |
| Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference | 79% |
| East Coast Conference | 79% |
| Great Midwest Athletic Conference | 78% |
| Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference | 77% |
| Great Northwest Athletic Conference | 76% |
| Pacific West Conference | 76% |
| Heartland Conference | 75% |
| Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | 73% |
| California Collegiate Athletic Association | 72% |
| Conference Carolinas | 70% |
| Peach Belt Conference | 70% |
| South Atlantic Conference | 69% |
| Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association | 67% |
| Independent | 66% |
| Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference | 66% |
| Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association | 64% |
| Gulf South Conference | 64% |
| Mountain East Conference | 61% |
| Great American Conference | 59% |
| Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | 58% |
| Lone Star Conference | 55% |
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 15 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
