University Southern California Trojans
USC Football, Athletes Post Impressive Graduation Rates
August 31, 1999 | USC Athletics
Aug. 31, 1999
LOS ANGELES - In the latest NCAA four-year graduation rates (based on scholarship football players entering school in 1989-92), USC graduated more than three-fifths of its players (61%). That figure is well above the Division I-A average for that period (52%) and within range of the overall USC student body four-year rate of 67%.
If the 1999 pre-season USA Today/ESPN football poll had been based on the current NCAA four-year graduation rates, USC would rank fifth, according to a chart that appeared in the Aug. 30 issue of USA Today.
Here's a look at the Top 5 (and Troy's other Top 25 opponents):
1. Notre Dame 78%
Penn State 78%
3. Virginia 75%
4. Nebraska 63%
5. USC 61%
8. (T)UCLA 58%
11. Arizona 55%
12. (T)Division I-A average 52%
21. Arizona State 38%
USC's one-year NCAA graduation rate for all student-athletes who entered the school as freshmen in 1992 was also above the national average and among the tops in Southern California.
According to a Aug. 31 story in the Los Angeles Times, "less than half of the scholarship athletes who entered UCLA in 1992 graduated within six years while nearly three-fifths of the athletes at USC graduated in the same time frame, according to an NCAA study.
"At UCLA, 78% of all students entering school in 1992 graduated, compared to 49% of athletes, including 47% of male athletes and 52% of female athletes. At USC, 70% of all students entering school in 1992 graduated, compared to 59% of athletes, including 57% of male athletes and 67% of female athletes."
The Times noted that among other Southland schools, Cal State Fullerton's freshmen athletes who enrolled in 1992 posted a 40% graduation rate (42% for the student body), Long Beach State's athletes were at 32% (33% student body) and UC Irvine's athletes were at 62% (74% student body).
Nationally, the Times reported that 58% of freshmen athletes from the 1992 class graduated (52% male and 68% female), compared to 56% of all students.
