UK Athletics Again Posts Record Graduation Rates

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The steady progression of academic achievement for the University of Kentucky Athletics Department continues. Wildcat student-athletes broke records for Graduation Success Rate and Federal Graduation Rate as released Tuesday by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
 
“We’re proud of our student-athletes for setting graduation records again,” Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart said.  “In addition to being a tribute to our students, we also recognize the leadership of our coaches and the guidance of our CATS (Center for Academic and Tutorial Services) staff for helping make this happen.”
 
UK’s NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR), a four-year composite statistic for the freshman classes of 2010-11 through 2013-14, was 92%. That tops the previous school record of 91% set last year, continuing UK Athletics’ streak of breaking or tying the mark every year since the NCAA began tracking the statistic in 2005.
 
In addition to being a school record, Kentucky’s GSR of 92 percent is two points above the national Division I average of 90 percent. 
 
“GSR is a long-term metric that reflects the cumulative efforts of the UK team – our students, a world class faculty, professional academic support staff, coaches, and so many others,” said Jason Cummins, UK Executive Associate Athletics Director of Student-Athlete Experience.  “Their pursuit of knowledge lays the foundation for future impact across multiple professional endeavors.”
 
The GSR includes all scholarship student-athletes who are on scholarship their first semester of enrollment. Athletes who transfer or depart for the professional ranks in good standing do not count against the school’s GSR. Schools also are allowed to count incoming transfers and January enrollees who subsequently graduate toward the GSR.
 
Here are UK Athletics’ GSR scores in the 16-year history of the measure:
 
Year                     NCAA GSR
2020                    92%
2019                    91
2018                    88
2017                    85
2016                    82 
2015                    81
2014                    81 
2013                    79         
2012                    79
2011                    77         
2010                    74
2009                    73
2008                    73
2007                    71
2006                    71
2005                    68
 
The Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) is also a four-year composite statistic for freshman classes from 2010-11 through 2013-14. UK’s latest FGR mark is 65%, breaking the record of 61 percent from the previous two years. Data for this statistic is available since 1991.
 
In the FGR, student-athletes who transfer or depart early for the professional ranks count as non-graduates, regardless of their academic standing or subsequent graduation from another institution. Incoming transfer students, from junior college or four-year schools, who graduate at UK are not counted as graduates. These factors account for the difference between the FGR and the NCAA GSR.
 
With those record graduation rates, 97 Wildcats received diplomas during the 2019-20 academic year alone. UK student-athletes are also receiving high marks in the classroom combining to surpass the department’s goal of a 3.0 grade-point average in 16 consecutive semesters.