UK Athletes Tie School Record for NCAA Graduation Success Rate
LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky student-athletes tied the school record for Graduation Success Rate in the annual report issued Wednesday by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
“Graduation is a foundation of our student-athlete experience. It’s gratifying to match our school record once again, especially in this era of enhanced student movement between schools, which can make graduation more challenging than ever,” Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart said. “I’m proud of the continued commitment and achievement of our student-athletes and thankful for the direction and support given by our coaches and the CATS (Center for Academic and Tutorial Services) staff.”
UK’s NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR), a four-year composite statistic for the freshman classes of 2014-15 through 2017-18, was 92 percent. That tied the record set in each of the past four years, continuing UK Athletics’ streak of breaking or tying the mark every year since the NCAA began tracking the statistic in 2005.
In addition to tying the school record, Kentucky’s GSR of 92 percent is two points above the Division I national average of 90 percent.
The GSR includes student-athletes who are on scholarship their first semester of enrollment. Athletes who transfer or depart for the professional ranks in good academic 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 20-year history of the measure:
Year NCAA GRADUATION SUCCESS RATE
2024 92%
2023 92
2022 92
2021 92
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 NCAA also released each school’s Federal Graduation Rate (FGR), which is also a four-year composite statistic for freshman classes from 2014-15 through 2017-18. UK’s latest FGR mark is 59%.
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.
In additional academic news, UK Athletics saw 163 Wildcats earn diplomas or certifications in the 2023-24 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 24 consecutive semesters.
