Increases in graduation rates among student-athletes has one official pointing out that sports might not be the only aim of students involved in the Ohio State Athletic Department.
According to information released from the NCAA, freshman student-athletes who came to OSU in 2005-2006, had a Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) of 81 percent. The four-class average of student-athletes from 2002-2005 had 85 percent in the Graduation Success Rate (GSR).
Athletic director Gene Smith said he was proud of the accomplishment.
“I am extremely proud of the great work our student-athletes, coaches, faculty and academic counselors continue to do,” Smith said in a press release. “In 2005 our graduation rate was 62 percent and to now be at 81 percent is a tremendous accomplishment that reflects on the quality of our student-athletes. While we strive to win championships, our greatest victory is in seeing our students graduate.”
The GSR data takes into consideration all athletically aided student-athletes including transfers but subtracts the athletes who leave the university while still eligible. The FGR only counts student-athletes’ success if they graduate from the university they initially enrolled in within a six-year period.
The OSU football program showed steady increases over the past four measured classes (2002-2005). The GSR for the OSU football program is 74 percent compared to 70 percent for all other Football Bowl Subdivisions (FBS) programs nationally.
OSU men’s basketball program causes year-to-year variability in numbers because of the small squad sizes but managed a 45 percent GSR. The men’s basketball program also had an outstanding Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 962.
The OSU teams who have shown the biggest increases in GSR include men’s cross country and track, men’s gymnastics, men’s soccer, men’s tennis, women’s gymnastics and women’s swimming.
