For the third consecutive year, the Graduation Success Rate of USC student-athletes is at an all-time high--83%--according to data released today by the NCAA. The 2016 GSR measures how many student-athletes in the classes of 2006 through 2009 graduated within six years of their enrollment.
That 83% figure, which is 17 percentage points higher than it was 10 years ago, comes on the heels of USC's then-best rates of 80% in 2014 and 81% in 2015.
USC's overall GSRs for 2017 and 2018 are projected to reach 86% each year, another record.
Seven USC sports had a GSR this year above 90%: women's soccer (100%), women's water polo (96%), women's rowing (96%), women's swimming (95%), men's volleyball (92%), women's volleyball (92%) and women's basketball (92%).
The women's soccer, women's water polo, women's swimming and men's volleyball teams were among five USC teams that recorded all-time high GSR rates, along with football (67%).
Ten of the 18 USC teams whose data was recorded saw their scores either improve from last year or stay the same: football, women's soccer, women's water polo, women's rowing, women's swimming, men's volleyball, women's volleyball, women's tennis (88%), men's water polo (86%) and men's tennis (80%).
The football GSR is nine percentage points higher than last year and is expected to rise to 73% next year. In fact, eight USC sports are projected to hit their all-time best GSR in 2017, with five at 100% (men's golf, men's tennis, women's rowing, women's soccer and women's tennis).
While football posted its highest GSR ever, its rate was impacted because several members of the 2006-2009 cohorts left school early to prepare for the NFL and did not finish their graduation requirements within the six-year GSR calculation period.
"We continue to be very pleased with the performance of our student-athletes in the classroom and with the culture of academic success that has been established in our athletic department," said Dr. Magdi El Shahawy, USC senior associate athletic director in charge of Student-Athlete Academic Services. "Much credit goes to the hard work of our student-athletes and the support they get from their coaches to graduate.
"We collectively look for ways not only to continue to improve our graduation rates, but to improve the services we offer our student-athletes to prepare them for successful lives for many years after they leave USC. We are fortunate to have supporters like Mark Stevens, who helped us establish our state-of-the-art Stevens Academic Center in 2012 that has played a crucial role in our student-athletes' academic success."
