GSR II
Photo by: Northwestern Athletics

Northwestern Once Again Shines With 98% Graduation Success Rate, Leads Big Ten for 20th Consecutive Year

11/20/2024 12:00:00 PM | Baseball, Football, General, Men's Basketball, Men's Golf, Men's Soccer, Men's Swimming and Diving, Men's Tennis, Softball, Women's Basketball, Women's Cross Country & Track, Women's Golf, Women's Lacrosse, Women's Soccer, Women's Swimming and Diving, Women's Tennis, Women's Volleyball, Wrestling, Field Hockey, Academic Services & Student Development, Women's Fencing

Northwestern’s GSR is Tied for Second Among all FBS Institutions, Matching the School and Conference Record

EVANSTON, Ill. (November 20, 2024) — Northwestern student-athletes continue to set a national standard when it comes to their academics, according to new Graduation Success Rate (GSR) data released Wednesday by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Northwestern's overall 98% GSR is tied for second across all Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) institutions and leads the Big Ten Conference for the 20th consecutive year. Wildcats have earned a 98% GSR for seven consecutive years.
 
"Today is another opportunity for us to celebrate the special student-athletes that represent Northwestern," said Combe Family Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Mark Jackson. "To achieve these results consistently for 20 years is credit to the whole athletics department, inclusive of coaches, administrators and support staff. Our student-athletes continue to prove, year after year, that being a Wildcat is an incredible opportunity to balance Big Ten athletics with world-class academics."
 
Northwestern's overall 98% GSR matches the department's and Big Ten's all-time record and, similar to last year, is the top mark in the Conference by two percentage points.
 
GSR Database
 
Northwestern has finished in the top four among FBS athletic departments all 20 years the data has been reported, scoring 96%-or-higher annually.
 
Thirteen Wildcats programs posted perfect 100 scores for the current cohort. The list includes baseball, men's basketball, men's tennis, wrestling, women's basketball, women's fencing, field hockey, women's golf, softball, women's soccer, women's swimming and diving, women's tennis and women's volleyball.
 
Four women's programs – golf, swimming and diving, tennis, and volleyball – earned perfect 100 scores for the 20th consecutive year. Men's tennis achieved the feat for the 19th straight year.  
 
Northwestern football earned the second highest GSR among all FBS programs, posting a 99% mark for the current cohort, up one percent from last year. It is the top mark in the Big Ten by eight percentage points. The Wildcats have ranked top-two in the country for GSR among FBS football programs for 14 straight years.
 
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