The University of Notre Dame is number one—again.
Notre Dame has claimed the 2018 national championship for graduating student-athletes in all sports–in the process posting the top NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) figure (98) for its student-athletes for the 12th straight year.
The GSR number for all Notre Dame student-athletes rates the Irish first among the football-playing institutions (tied with Duke and Northwestern) in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A). The 2018 NCAA figures are based on entering classes from 2008 through 2011.
Meanwhile, Notre Dame’s institutional research determined additional academic highlights based on the NCAA-issued GSR and federal figures released today:
— Seventeen of 22 Irish athletic programs analyzed posted GSR figures of 100 percent, and 10 produced federal rate 100 scores.
— For the 13th time in 14 years, Notre Dame ranks number one on a percentage basis in terms of number of GSR 100 scores, among all FBS schools.
–Seventeen of Notre Dame’s 22 men’s and women’s programs posted GSR numbers that rank them best in the nation within their sports–and 11 produced federal graduation rates that led all FBS institutions.
Whether measured by the federal government in its Department of Education report or by the NCAA through its GSR numbers, graduation rates for Notre Dame student-athletes once again rank either number one or among the handful of national leaders in five major categories among all major football-playing colleges and universities.
Notre Dame research shows Irish student-athletes in 2018 rank number one in two of 10 standings–ranking second in two others and third in two more. For the 12th year in a row Notre Dame leads the nation in GSR categories both for all student-athletes (at 98) and female student-athletes (99). Notre Dame’s GSR figure for male student-athletes has ranked number one eight of the past 10 years (second this year at 97).
In calculations including all student-athletes in all sports, Notre Dame ranks first (at 98) among the FBS schools in the GSR figures, which were initiated in 2005 by the NCAA. Using the federal formula, Notre Dame graduated a four-year average of 93 percent of its student-athletes, behind only Navy at 100 and Stanford at 94.
In addition to its number-one GSR ranking for all student-athletes (98), Notre Dame finished tied for first among female student-athletes at 99, tied for second among male student-athletes at 97 percent and tied for 10th among black student-athletes at 87 percent. In football, Notre Dame ranked tied for fourth at 95.
Notre Dame graduated 91 percent of all men competing in varsity athletics to rank tied for second among its peer institutions based on the federal calculations. Among women, Notre Dame’s 95 percent federal rate was third (behind Stanford at 97 and Rice at 96). Notre Dame graduated 80 percent of its black student-athletes, ranking fifth based on the federal rate, and Irish football players graduated at an 87 percent rate to rank fifth.
2018 NCAA Graduation Rates
All data for student-athletes who enrolled between 2008 and 2011 (numbers are percentages)
All Student-Athletes
GSR
1. (tie) Notre Dame, Duke, Northwestern, 98; 4. (tie) Stanford, Vanderbilt, 97; 6. (tie) Boston College, Utah, 95; 8. South Carolina, 94; 9. (tie) Michigan, Minnesota, Rice, Tulane, 93
Federal Rate
1. U.S. Naval Academy, 100; 2. Stanford, 94; 3. Notre Dame, 93; 4. Northwestern, 91; 5. Duke, 89; 6. Vanderbilt, 85; 7. Boston College, 82; 8. (tie) Michigan, Rice, 81; 10. Minnesota, 80
Male Student-Athletes
GSR
1.Duke, 98; 2. (tie) Notre Dame, Northwestern, 97; 4. (tie) Stanford, Vanderbilt, 96; 6. Utah, 95; 7.
(tie) Boston College, South Carolina, U.S. Naval Academy, 91; 10. (tie) Clemson, Michigan, Minnesota, Tulane, Wake Forest, 90
Federal Rate
1. Stanford, 92; 2. (tie) Notre Dame, Northwestern, 91; 4. Duke, 86; 5. Vanderbilt, 79; 6. Michigan, 76; 7. Minnesota, 75; 8. (tie) Miami (Ohio), Penn State, 73; 10. (tie) Boston College, Rice, Virginia, 72
Female Student-Athletes
GSR
1. (tie) Notre Dame, Wake Forest, 99; 3. (tie) Boston College, Central Florida, Duke, Northwestern, Rice, Stanford, Tulane, Vanderbilt, 98
Federal Rate
1. Stanford, 97; 2. Rice, 96, 3. Notre Dame, 95; 4. Duke, 92; 5. (tie) Northwestern, Vanderbilt, 91; 7. Boston College, 89; 8. Illinois, 88; 9. Virginia, 87; 10. (tie) Michigan, Penn State, 86
Black Student-Athletes
GSR
1. Vanderbilt, 100; 2. Duke, 95; 3. (tie) Northwestern, South Carolina, 93; 5. Tulane, 92; 6. Stanford, 91; 7. Michigan, 90; 8. Utah, 89; 9. Boise State, 88; 10. (tie) Notre Dame, Bowling Green, Clemson, Wake Forest, 87
Federal Rate
1. Northwestern, 87; 2. Vanderbilt, 86; 3. Stanford, 84; 4. Duke, 82; 5. Notre Dame, 80; 6. Rice, 76;
7. Bowling Green, 73; 8. (tie) Georgia Tech, Virginia, 70; 10. (tie) Michigan, Wake Forest, 71
Football Student-Athletes
GSR
1. Charlotte, 100; 2. Northwestern, 99, 3. Duke, 96; 4. (tie) Notre Dame, Stanford, Utah, Vanderbilt, 95; 8. South Carolina, 93; 9. Utah State, 92; 10. Virginia Tech, 90
Federal Rate
1. U.S. Naval Academy, 100; 2. Northwestern, 92; 3. Duke, 89; 4. Stanford, 88; 5. Notre Dame, 87; 6. Vanderbilt, 84; 7. (tie) Louisville, Missouri, Rice, 77; 10. Boston College, 76
Since the NCAA first published GSR numbers in 2005, here are the trends for Notre Dame in all 10 categories over the 14 years of graduation rates (includes ranking and raw graduation percentage; SA stands for student-athletes):
Category 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
All SAs Fed. 1st at 90 2nd at 89 3rd at 89 2nd at 89 2nd at 90
GSR 2nd at 98 2nd at 98 1st at 98 1st at 98 1st at 99
Male SAs Fed. 1st at 87 1st at 87 3rd at 85 2nd at 87 1st at 88
GSR 2nd at 98 2nd at 97 2nd at 97 2nd at 97 1st at 98
Female SAs Fed. 1st at 96 2nd at 94 1st at 94 1st at 93 1st at 94
GSR 5th at 99 2nd at 99 1st at 100 1st at 100 1st at 100
Black SAs Fed. 6th at 78 6th at 84 8th at 75 1st at 84 1st at 85
GSR 6th at 93 3rd at 95 4th at 91 2nd at 96 1st at 97
Football SAs Fed. 4th at 85 6th at 84 6th at 79 4th at 85 3rd at 85
GSR 2nd at 96 3rd at 95 3rd at 93 2nd at 94 1st at 96
Category 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
All SAs Fed. 1st at 91 1st at 91 2nd at 91 3rd at 88 2nd at 89
GSR 1st at 99 1st at 99 1st at 99 1st at 98 1st at 99
Male SAs Fed. 1st at 87 1st at 87 1st at 89 4th at 84 3rd at 86
GSR 1st at 98 1st at 98 1st at 98 1st at 98 1st at 98
Female SAs Fed. 1st at 97 1st at 96 2nd at 94 2nd at 93 2nd at 94
GSR 1st at 100 1st at 100 1st at 100 1st at 100 1st at 100
Black SAs Fed. 2nd at 86 2nd at 85 3rd at 82 5th at 79 5th at 82
GSR 1st at 98 1st at 98 2nd at 98 1st at 96 1st at 96
Football SAs Fed. 4th at 85 5th at 83 6th at 83 9th at 75 9th at 75
GSR 1st at 96 1st at 97 1st at 97 4th at 93 4th at 94
Category 2015 2016 2017 2018
All SAs Fed. 2nd at 90 3rd at 90 2nd at 93 3rd at 93
GSR 1st at 98 1st at 98 1st at 98 1st at 98
Male SAs Fed. 3rd at 89 3rd at 87 1st at 92 2nd at 91
GSR 2nd at 97 1st at 97 1st at 98 2nd at 97
Female SAs Fed. 2nd at 92 2nd at 95 2nd at 96 3rd at 95
GSR 1st at 99 1st at 99 1st at 99 1st at 99
Black SAs Fed. 4th at 85 4th at 78 3rd at 85 5th at 80
GSR 3rd at 92 4th at 90 9th at 90 10th at 87
Football SAs Fed. 6th at 82 7th at 79 2nd at 90 5th at 87
GSR 5th at 93 6th at 93 3rd at 96 4th at 95
Over the 14 years worth of numbers of both the federal rates and the GSR, Notre Dame has had 140 possible rankings in the five categories and 59 times ranked first, 32 times ranked second and 17 times ranked third.
The federally mandated NCAA Graduation-Rates Report covers students who enrolled between 2008 and 2011 at all Division I institutions. The federal graduation rates are based on the raw percentage of student-athletes who entered an institution and graduated within six years. Students who leave or transfer, regardless of academic standing, are considered non-graduates. All those receiving athletics aid are included in the statistics. All military academies are exempt from the federal survey because they do not offer grants-in-aid to student-athletes. The GSR was created to more accurately reflect actual graduation rates by including transfer data in the calculation. College and university presidents asked the NCAA to develop a new methodology that takes into account the mobility among students in today’s higher education environment. Research indicates approximately 60 percent of all new bachelor’s degree recipients are attending more than one undergraduate institution during their collegiate careers.
For the 13th time in 14 years, Notre Dame ranked number one on a percentage basis in terms of number of GSR 100 scores, among all NCAA FBS schools (tied with Duke). Seventeen of 22 athletics programs at Notre Dame compiled graduation rates of 100 percent. None of the FBS programs in the country this year had a higher percentage of 100 GSR scores than did Notre Dame with its .772 number (17 of 22). Notre Dame’s programs combined for highs of 20 perfect scores in 2013 and 2014.
In addition, Notre Dame ranked second among all FBS institutions with 10 perfect scores among 22 sports (.454) in the federal graduation rate analysis.
Here are the top institutions in the GSR category (these are the FBS institutions with 50 or more percent of their sports registering 100 marks):
Graduation Success Rate
Institution Percentage 100 Scores/Sports Rated
1. (tie) Notre Dame .772 17/22
Duke .772 17/22
3. Vanderbilt .714 10/14
4. Stanford .667 18/27
5. Tulane .636 7/11
6. Northwestern .631 12/19
7. Bowling Green .625 10/16
8. Wake Forest .571 8/14
9. Boston College .565 13/23
10. Colorado .538 7/13
11. (tie) Buffalo .500 6/12
Indiana .500 10/20
Iowa State .500 7/14
Miami (Florida) .500 7/14
Rice .500 6/12
South Carolina .500 8/16
Toledo .500 7/14
Utah .500 8/16
Utah State .500 6/12
Here are the top institutions in the federal category (these are the only eight FBS institutions with four or more 100 scores):
Federal Graduation Rates
Institution Percentage 100 Scores/Sports Rated
1. Stanford .518 14/27
2. Notre Dame .454 10/22
3. Duke .428 9/21
4. Vanderbilt .384 5/13
5. Rice .333 4/12
6. UAB .266 4/15
7. Boston College .222 4/18
8. North Carolina .173 4/23
NCAA figures released today show 10 of 11 Irish women’s programs posted a GSR of 100 percent–cross country/track, fencing, golf, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, softball, swimming/diving, tennis and volleyball. Among Notre Dame’s men’s sports, basketball, cross country/track, fencing, golf, lacrosse, soccer and tennis achieved 100 percent GSR scores. Football scored 96, while baseball and hockey finished at 95 and swimming/diving was at 94.
In the federal calculations, the 10 Notre Dame programs with 100 scores were men’s fencing, men’s golf, men’s lacrosse, men’s soccer, men’s tennis, women’s fencing, women’s golf, women’s lacrosse, softball and women’s tennis. Other top Notre Dame numbers in the federal analysis included rowing at 97, women’s cross country/track and field at 96, women’s swimming and diving at 95, men’s swimming and diving and men’s cross country/track and field at 94, volleyball at 93 and hockey at 90.
In the federal standings Notre Dame’s hockey score ranked second, its men’s basketball score stood third, its women’s swimming and diving score finished fourth and and its football and women’s cross country/track and field figures rated fifth among FBS institutions.
The 2018 GSR numbers are based on entering classes from 2008 to 2011, the 2017 GSR numbers are based on entering classes from 2007 to 2010, the 2016 GSR numbers are based on 2006 to 2009, the 2015 GSR numbers on 2005 to 2008, the 2014 GSR numbers on 2004 to 2007, the 2013 GSR data on 2003 to 2006–and the 2012 GSR numbers on 2002 to 2005. The 2011 GSR numbers are based on entering classes from 2001 to 2004, the 2010 GSR numbers on 2000 to 2003 and the 2009 GSR data on classes from 1999 to 2002. The 2008 GSR numbers are based on entering classes from 1998 to 2001, the ’07 data on 1997 to 2000, the ’06 data on 1996 to 1999–and the ’05 first-year GSR data was based upon 1995 to 1998.Seventeen of Notre Dame’s men’s and women’s athletic programs posted GSR numbers that rank them best in the nation within their sports (all 17 with perfect 100 scores)–and 11 produced federal graduation rates that led all NCAA FBS institutions (10 with perfect 100 scores).
Ten of 11 Irish women’s programs had GSR rates ranking them first within their sports among the NCAA FBS subset of schools. Seven of 11 Irish men’s programs had GSR rates ranking them first within their sports:
— Women’s cross country/track and field at 100 tied for first with 15 other schools.
— Women’s rowing at 100 tied for first with 12 other schools.
— Women’s fencing at 100 tied for first with Duke, North Carolina, Northwestern and Stanford.
— Women’s golf at 100 tied for first with 72 other schools.
— Women’s lacrosse at 100 tied for first with 10 other schools.
— Women’s soccer at 100 tied for first with 35 other schools.
— Women’s softball at 100 tied for first with 30 other schools.
— Women’s swimming and diving at 100 tied for first with 29 other schools.
— Women’s tennis at 100 finished tied for first with 79 other schools.
— Women’s volleyball at 100 ranked tied for first with 64 other schools.
— Men’s basketball at 100 tied for first with 21 other schools.
— Men’s cross country/track and field at 100 tied for first with nine other schools.
— Men’s fencing at 100 tied for first with Duke, Ohio State and Stanford.
— Men’s golf at 100 tied for first with 45 other schools.
— Men’s lacrosse at 100 finished first (tied with Duke and Syracuse).
— Men’s soccer at 100 tied for first with Duke, Indiana, Northwestern, Ohio State and Wake Forest.
— Men’s tennis at 100 tied for first with 58 other schools.
— Football at 95 finished fourth behind Northwestern at 99, Duke at 96, and South Carolina at 98.
— Men’s hockey at 95 ranked fourth behind Bowling Green and Penn State at 100 and Air Force at 97.
— Baseball at 95 (tied with eight other teams) ranked seventh, behind only Clemson, Eastern Michigan, Illinois, Kent State, Missouri and Northwestern (all at 100).
Six Irish women’s programs rank first within their sports among the NCAA FBS subset—five with perfect 100 federal rates. Five Irish men’s programs had federal rates ranking them first within their sports (all with perfect 100 scores).
— Women’s fencing at 100 tied for first with Duke, North Carolina, Ohio State and Stanford.
— Women’s golf at 100 tied for first with 16 other schools.
— Women’s lacrosse at 100 tied for first with five other schools.
— Softball at 100 tied for first with Arizona State and Georgia State.
— Women’s tennis at 100 tied for first with 20 other schools.
— Men’s fencing at 100 tied for first with Stanford.
— Men’s golf at 100 ranked tied for first with 11 other schools.
— Men’s tennis at 100 tied for first with 13 other schools.
— Men’s lacrosse at 100 finished first–tied with Duke.
— Men’s soccer at 100 ranked first, tied with Michigan State.
— Women’s crew/rowing at 97 ranked first, ahead of Boston College (96) and UCLA (95).
— Women’s cross country/track and field at 96 ranked tied for fifth (with Duke and Nebraska) behind Boston College, Navy, Northwestern, Rutgers, Vanderbilt (all at 100) and Stanford (97).
— Women’s swimming at 95 (tied with Stanford) ranked behind only Rice (100), Illinois (97) and Michigan (96).
— Men’s swimming at 94 stood seventh behind Cincinnati, Duke, Florida Atlantic, Miami (Florida), Stanford (all at 100) and Georgia Tech (95).
— Men’s cross country/track and field at 94 (tied with Wake Forest) ranked seventh.
— Women’s volleyball at 93 stood 11th behind Ball State, Duke, Iowa, Iowa State, North Carolina, Ohio State, Rice, Stanford, Wake Forest and Washington (all at 100).
— Men’s hockey at 90 ranked second behind Connecticut (100).
— Men’s basketball at 88 ranked third behind Troy (100) and Stanford (91).
— Football at 87 ranked fifth, behind Navy (100), Northwestern (92), Duke (89) and Stanford (88).
