Ball State University Athletics
Ball State Athletics Continues Record Graduation Trend
December 06, 2023 | General
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ball State University student-athletes have established an institutional record with a graduation success rate (GSR) of 93 percent, according to Wednesday's report released by the NCAA. The 93 percent GSR reflects the fourth straight year that Ball State student-athletes have eclipsed a 90 percent rate and at least matched their program record.
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Student-athletes' steady rise in graduation success rate at Ball State mirrors a national trend, with the NCAA announcing a six-year overall rate of 91% among Division I student-athletes who entered college in 2016.
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Ball State student-athletes first reached the 90 percent plateau with rates released by the NCAA in 2020, and then matched that figure a year later. Last year's 91 percent success rate set a new plateau for the Cardinals, topped only by this year's report.
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Ball State was one of six schools in the Mid-American Conference to post a GSR of 90 percent or better, joining Buffalo, Kent State, Miami, Ohio and Toledo.
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"Ball State University excels at developing and graduating students, including student-athletes," said Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell. "Participation in intercollegiate athletics continues to be an attractive platform for students to attend college while learning valuable life skills to position them as leaders in their respective communities. I applaud our student-athletes as they continue to pursue excellence academically and athletically."
Eight Ball State athletics programs boasted a 100 percent graduation rate during that six-year stretch: field hockey, gymnastics, men's golf, men's tennis, men's volleyball, soccer, women's basketball and women's tennis. The announcement of the record-setting GSR follows a 2022-23 academic year which saw Ball State student-athletes earn a record 3.43 term grade-point average (GPA).
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By comparison, the federal graduation rate (FGR), which is less inclusive than the GSR and released alongside those numbers, provides the only measure of historic academic comparison between student-athletes and the general student body. Using this standard, Ball State student-athletes graduated at a 77 percent rate in the latest report – 13 points higher than their peers.
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Student-athletes' steady rise in graduation success rate at Ball State mirrors a national trend, with the NCAA announcing a six-year overall rate of 91% among Division I student-athletes who entered college in 2016.
Â
Ball State student-athletes first reached the 90 percent plateau with rates released by the NCAA in 2020, and then matched that figure a year later. Last year's 91 percent success rate set a new plateau for the Cardinals, topped only by this year's report.
Â
Ball State was one of six schools in the Mid-American Conference to post a GSR of 90 percent or better, joining Buffalo, Kent State, Miami, Ohio and Toledo.
Â
"Ball State University excels at developing and graduating students, including student-athletes," said Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell. "Participation in intercollegiate athletics continues to be an attractive platform for students to attend college while learning valuable life skills to position them as leaders in their respective communities. I applaud our student-athletes as they continue to pursue excellence academically and athletically."
Eight Ball State athletics programs boasted a 100 percent graduation rate during that six-year stretch: field hockey, gymnastics, men's golf, men's tennis, men's volleyball, soccer, women's basketball and women's tennis. The announcement of the record-setting GSR follows a 2022-23 academic year which saw Ball State student-athletes earn a record 3.43 term grade-point average (GPA).
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By comparison, the federal graduation rate (FGR), which is less inclusive than the GSR and released alongside those numbers, provides the only measure of historic academic comparison between student-athletes and the general student body. Using this standard, Ball State student-athletes graduated at a 77 percent rate in the latest report – 13 points higher than their peers.
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