Oct. 28, 2014

EASTON, Pa. - Lafayette College's athletic programs had the fourth highest total in the nation in Graduation Success Rate (GSR) as announced on Tuesday by the NCAA in its annual report. Lafayette boasted a 97 percent GSR overall for its 18 sports measured and a total of 12 Lafayette programs registered a graduation rate of 100 percent.

Lafayette's GSR of 97 percent placed the school with five others at that spot, while just 10 schools tallied 98 percent or better, led by Centenary College (La.), the only school with a 100 percent rate.

The NCAA's GSR includes transfer students and student-athletes who leave in good academic standing, unlike the federal graduation rate, which does not count transfers. The GSR and federal rate calculations measure graduation over six years from first-time college enrollment.

The 12 programs to receive perfect GSR scores were baseball, golf, men's lacrosse, men's soccer, men's swimming, women's basketball, women's cross country and track and field, women's lacrosse, women's soccer, women's softball, women's swimming and volleyball.

Lafayette's football program received a ranking of 95, the fifth-best mark in the NCAA. Men's cross country and track and field, and field hockey posted 94 percent marks, while men's basketball recorded a 90 percent, men's tennis notched an 80 percent and women's tennis tabbed a 75 percent overall rate.

The federal graduation rate, while less inclusive than the GSR, provides the only measure of historic academic comparison between student-athletes and the general student body. By this standard, student-athletes consistently outperform nearly all their peers in the student body.

Lafayette student-athletes have a Federal Graduation four-class average of 88 percent, tied for sixth in the country.

For full NCAA data for all schools, conferences, sports and years, click here.